queens chronicle south edition 02-28-13

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VOL. XXXVI NO. 9 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013 QCHRON.COM

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Queens businesses Queens businesses are unfairly targeted are unfairly targeted by city regulators, by city regulators, Public Advocate Public Advocate Bill de Blasio allegesBill de Blasio alleges PAGE 6PAGE 6

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by Joseph OrovicAssistant Managing/Online Editor

Community Board 8’s Zoning Committeenavigated what has become a rote set ofmachinations during a hearing about the

United States Tennis Association’s plannedexpansion.

It involved an extensive joint presentation bythe USTA and city Parks Department; jawingover some of Flushing Meadows’ still-unde-fined benefits; speaking slots larded up by pro-ponents and opponents of the project with accu-sations flying in all directions.

Unlike previous gatherings, the meeting ledto a vote on a motion to approve the USTA’sexpansion. It included the stipulation that thenonprofit increase its outreach efforts into theCB 8 community and offer more free programsto neighborhoods that encompass the park. Itended in a 4-4 tie.

A similar hearing before Community Board9’s Parks Committee resulted in the outlining ofa resolution that has yet to be drafted, but willbe presented to the full board for a vote at itsnext meeting on March 12. (Boards 3, 4, 6, 7, 8and 9 all must vote on the project as part of theUniform Land Use Review Procedure.)

“I firmly believe this will happen,” said CB8 zoning committee member Mark Haken afterinitiating the motion to approve. “What can Iget out of the USTA for the youths of CB 8 inexchange?”

This “in exchange” mentality, guided by asense of inevitability, has repeatedly become

the fulcrum of community boards’ discussionsof the the USTA’s proposal.

The nonprofit has been a tenant in FlushingMeadows for 35 years; the park hasn’t burnedto cinders. Many of the organization’s tennis-oriented works are gratis. And the USTA touts$750 million in economic activity generated byits self-described “bake sale,” the US Open.

But nearly all of the USTA’s benefits areaimed at the macro-economic scope of city-wide lucre. Its $2.5 million in rent, communi-ty board members often note, go into thecity’s general fund, which is dispersed acrossall five boroughs.

“We’ve been a good neighbor,” USTA Presi-dent Daniel Zausner often says during his pre-sentation before boards.

Now, community boards are beginning toask the USTA to be a good neighbor to the parkexclusively. But was it ever?

Arne Abramowitz remembers his first reac-tion to the USTA’s proposed expansion, duringhis days as the Flushing Meadows Corona Parkadministrator from 1985 to 1993 when the ten-nis organization first expanded its presencefootprint by over 20 acres.

“They had the stadium in the completelywrong place!” he said, pointing at some way-ward end of the USTA’s grounds during a walkin the park.

Arthur Ashe Stadium was set to be com-pletely misaligned with the park’s Beaux-Artsdesign. Fortunately, reason prevailed somewhat.At least the new tennis stadium was in line with

the park’s signature structure, the Unisphere,Abramowitz said.

The USTA didn’t care, he said. “This wasfree real estate to them.” This new expansion isno different in his mind.

The National Tennis Center’s upgrade, nomi-nally dubbed a “Strategic Vision,” calls for arelocation of the current Grandstand Stadium, arenovation of Louis Armstrong Stadium, aswell as additional courts and parking facilities.The plan would alienate a total of .68 acre ofwhat is currently parkland along its facility’seastern edge.

The plan comes at a time when some feelthe park is being chopped into segments andhanded over to private interests. An alphabet

soup of grassroots organizations, includingthe Fairness Coalition of Queens, Save Flush-ing Meadows Corona Park and Friends ofFlushing Meadows Corona Park, have joinedthe usual cadre of park advocates in opposingthe USTA’s plans, as well as a proposed MajorLeague Soccer stadium and 1.4-millionsquare-foot mall next to Citi Field.

The groups decry various aspects of the pro-posal: increased traff ic; hundreds of treeschopped down; cars parked on the grass duringthe US Open and a proposed on-site 8 mega-watt diesel generator.

The USTA rebuffs the claims in a “Fact vs.Fiction” flyer it distributes at meetings, as wellas during its presentation. All lost trees will bereplaced, it asserts. The Department of Trans-portation approved the USTA’s traffic figures,during peak congestion hours. The cars parkedon the grass are the fault of the NYPD, not theUSTA, and only occur on days when the USOpen overlaps with a Mets home game. It doesuse an allotted grass field for parking, which itresods immediately after the Open.

And the generator, which is listed as partof the plan in the project’s Draft Environ-mental Impact Statement, has been blownout of proportion.

A more recent line of attack points to theUSTA’s offices in Westchester, with opponentsaccusing the organization’s executives of duck-ing New York City income taxes.

“That decision was made 20 to 25 years ago

Is anyone, even the USTA, FMCP’s friend?

continued on page 23

The USTA’s “Strategic Vision,” which includes anew Grandstand and rejuvenated LouisArmstrong Stadium. FILE IMAGE

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SOUTH UEENS NEWSQUHCC founder indicted on charges of fraud

Two others accused of scheme to pocket city taxpayer dollars by Domenick Rafter

Associate EditorA probe by the city’s Depart-

ment of Investigation has uncovereda number of alleged fraudulent andirregular f inancial transactionsinvolving two executives at theSouth Ozone Park-based UnitedHindu Cultural Council of USANorth America Inc. and a food ven-dor to the UHCC, the DOI and stateAttorney General Eric Schneider-man announced Monday.

The DOI’s f indings include analleged scheme involving fraudulentinvoices submitted by the UHCC tothe City Department for the Agingfor nonexistent lunches supposedlyserved to seniors at the group’sSouth Ozone Park center.

According to the report, theUHCC contracted with the DFTAbetween July 1999 and September2011 to provide meals, culturalactivities and counseling services toseniors at the center at 118-09 SutterAve. in South Ozone Park. The citystopped funding the UHCC in 2011.

Three individuals have beenindicted on charges of stealing morethan $50,000 from the city through

that scheme and will be prosecutedby Schneiderman's office. They areChan Jamoonda, 66, of RichmondHill, founder of the UHCC and itsexecutive director from 2002 to2005; Veda Jamoona, 28, of Man-hattan, Chan’s daughter and UHCCexecutive director from January2006 until December 2008 — whomost recently worked on the staff ofComptroller John Liu — and StevenRajukumar, 57, owner of Sonny’sRoti Shop in Ozone Park, the foodvendor allegedly involved in thescheme. The three are beingcharged with grand larceny in thesecond degree and conspiracy in thefourth degree. Additionally, ChanJamoona and Rajukumar are alsocharged with varying counts of fal-sifying business records in the firstdegree while the Jamoonas arecharged with varying counts ofoffering a false instrument for filingin the first degree.

The indictment alleges thatbetween 2004 and 2010, ChanJamoona ordered an employee ofUHCC to make false entries on thegroup’s sign-in served lunch, andoffered to create false invoices for

the roti shop resulting in higher pay-ments to the vendor. Rajukumaragreed to share these extra paymentswith Chan Jamoona. In the mean-time, Veda Jamoona allegedly alsocaused false invoices to be filed withthe DFTA regarding the number ofmeals provided by the roti shop.

“Nonprofit executives who fabri-cate expenses to pocket unearnedcity funds will be shown the doorand referred for criminal prosecu-tion,” DOI Commissioner Rose GillHearn said. “DOI will continue tofocus on instances of fraud in thissector and work with the state attor-ney general and our colleagues incity government and law enforce-ment to protect taxpayer-supportedprograms from abuse.”

The DOI’s investigation allegedlyfound, in addition to the chargedfraudulent invoice scheme involvinglunches:

• A number of financial irregu-larities which were brought to theattention of city contracting offi-cials and Schneiderman’s off iceincluding that the UHCC allegedlypaid a salary of more than $13,000to the younger Jamoona for more

than four months when she was notworking, which was billed toDFTA;

• for several years, ChanJamoona allegedly worked simulta-neously at the UHCC, conductingvarious transactions with DFTA onthe group’s behalf, and as an

employee of the city’s Health andHospitals Corporation, withoutobtaining permission from the city'sConflicts of Interest Board;

• in 2007, Chan Jamoona’s hus-band acquired the South OzonePark building in which the UHCC

by Domenick RafterAssociate Editor

The iconic Woodhaven branchof the Queens Library willundergo a renovation of its firstfloor later in March that willforce the closure of most of thesite for about three weeks.

But the library will not becompletely shuttered during theupgrades. Queens Libraryspokeswoman Joanne King saidthe branch will operate out of atemporary space on the lowerlevel of the nearly 90-year-oldbuilding at 85-41 Forest Parkway.

“The space will be accessiblethrough the side door on 85thDrive,” King said.

The library will close its maindoor beginning March 11 and,though no definite date for com-pletion is set, the renovationsshould take about three weeks.

New lighting will be installedon the first floor, and the branchwill get new furniture and finishesas well as a fresh coat of paint. Anew circulation desk will be con-structed and self-check-ins and

check-outs will be installed. Thelibrary will also get a handi-capped accessible bathroom and anew front door, and the building’sroof will undergo repairs.

Ed Wendell, president of theWoodhaven Residents’ Block

Association, also reported therenovations on his blog. He laud-ed the Queens Library’s decisionto open a temporary space in thebasement.

“Many times, while a libraryis being renovated, you need to

make do with a mobile library,”Wendell wrote on his civic’sblog. “We are very fortunate tobe able to keep a portion of thelibrary open.”

Without that or the typicalmobile library trailer, librarypatrons would have to travel toGlendale, Ozone Park or theNorth Forest Park branch inForest Hills to access libraryservices.

The Woodhaven librarybranch is one of the more his-torical library buildings in theborough. It was the last of theso-called Carnegie libraries —ones built using money donatedfrom philanthropist and steelmagnate Andrew Carnegie —going up in 1923 and openingon Jan. 7, 1924. The buildingunderwent repairs after it wasgutted by a f ire in 1978. Cityspending cuts put the library’sfuture in jeopardy a number oftimes, most recently in 2010,when it was eyed for closure,but funding was restored in thefinal budget. Q

Woodhaven library plans upgradesFacility to operate in temporary space on lower level


The Woodhaven branch of the Queens Public Library will undergo renova-tions beginning March 11, closing its first floor for at least three weeks.

PHOTO BY DOMENICK RAFTER

Man founddead after fire

A man was found dead after a fire onthe second floor of a private home inRichmond Hill early Sunday morning thatpolice suspect was set on purpose.

The FDNY was alerted to the fire at115-18 95 Ave., one block south ofAtlantic Avenue, at 2:35 a.m. on Sundaymorning. Firefighters arrived five minuteslater and fought the blaze, which wasburning in a second-floor apartment of thethree-story semi-detached home.

The fire reached a second alarm at 2:50a.m. and firefighters were able to bringthe blaze under control shortly thereafter.

But after extinguishing the flames,investigators disovered Azeem Ali, 43,inside the apartment. Police say theyfound him bound with electrical cords andshot once in the head. Ali, an immigrantfrom Guyana, was pronounced dead at thescene.

Police say the fire was likely set inten-tionally and began in the back bedroomwhere Ali was found. The case is beingtreated as a homicide.

No one else was injured in the fire. — Domenick Rafter

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The United Hindu Cultural Center’s senior center on Sutter Avenue in SouthOzone Park, above, where UHCC founder Chan Jamoona and her daughterVeda allegedly never served meals paid for with city taxpayer money.

PHOTO BY DOMENICK RAFTER

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To Our Neighbors Affected by Hurricane Sandy,As members of our beloved community we too were affected by Hurricane Sandy. The devasta-

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Public Advocate Bill de Blasio is blastingwhat he portrays as intentionally stringentenforcement of city business regulations inthe outer boroughs in an attempt to bolster thecity’s coffers by $50 million.

“When Mayor Bloomberg sees thesestores, he sees dollar signs,” the Democraticmayoral candidate said, pointing to shops lin-ing Jamaica Avenue in Richmond Hill duringa press conference on Monday.

The public advocate last Thursday releaseda report titled “Borough Bias: How theBloomberg Administration Drains Outer Bor-ough Businesses,” which claimed Queensestablishments are more likely to receive anunexpected visit from a city inspector and paya fine.

Bloomberg was reported as dismissing deBlasio’s findings, pointing to population dif-ferences between the five boroughs.

“Manhattan’s population is 1.5 million outof 8.4 million, so that shouldn’t be a surprisethat there are more places to inspect,” mediasources quoted him as saying.

De Blasio’s report found the borough’s busi-nesses are 16 percent more likely to be inspect-ed by the Department of Consumer Affairsthan their siblings in Manhattan, resulting in a22 percent higher outlay in fines in comparisonto businesses across the East River.

The DCA seems to have it in for Queens,according to the report. It found nine of theagency’s 10 most-fined neighborhoods are inthe borough. The Department of Health andMental Hygiene follows a similar trend, withseven of the agency’s 10 most-fined neighbor-hoods in Queens.

The DCA fines have a higher occurrencesouth of the Long Island Expressway, with St.

Albans, Springfield Gardens and CambriaHeights leading among all city neighborhoods.

“There is a shockingly clear pattern ofover-enforcement in the outer boroughs andunder-enforcement in Manhattan,” de Blasiosaid, adding the city’s budget outlay for 2010to 2012 called for increased revenue fromf ines, which was then met by increasedenforcement of arcane rules.

De Blasio told the story of a bar owner whoused a fork to clean candle stands, leading tosome dabs of wax on the untensil. A cityinspector found the offending silverware andstuck the business owner with a fine, claimingthe fork could find its way into the other cleansilverware, and then into a patron’s mouth.

The bar doesn’t serve food.“We’ve found arbitrary and unfair judg-

ments by inspectors,” de Blasio said. “Themayor’s plan is to fine first, ask questionslater.”

The arcane rules ignore the addedheadache of fighting a fine, which he saidrequires a full day out of the workplace towrangle with city agencies. Many businessowners, like Andy Jareandhan, owner of theFresh Point Market on Liberty Avenue, havethrown up their hands and settled for a defaultjudgement against them.

One inspector found three boxes of fruit onthe ground at his store, leading to a fine of$7,500.

The chance at recourse is what de Blasioultimately seeks. He suggested a grace periodfor some violations, allowing inspectors toreturn after several days to see if the violationwas addressed, and fines doled out only tothose who ignored the first warning.

It’s a much better solution, he claimed, thanfining businesses for “offenses, both real andimagined,” he said. Q

De Blasio report: city fines target Queens bizPublic Advocate claims inspections used to fatten municipal coffers

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, left, and the Richmond Hill Economic Development Corporation’spresident, Vishnu Mahadeo, both blasting what they called a concerted effort to raise funds byexcessively fining small businesses outside Manhattan. PHOTO BY JOSEPH OROVIC

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Published every week byMARK I PUBLICATIONS, INC.

MARK WEIDLERPresident & Publisher

SUSAN & STANLEY MERZONFounders

Raymond G. Sito General ManagerPeter C. Mastrosimone Editor-in-Chief

Liz Rhoades Managing EditorJoseph Orovic Asst. Managing/Online Editor

Michael Gannon EditorJosey Bartlett Editor

Domenick Rafter Associate EditorTess McRae Reporter

Terry Nusspickel Editorial Production ManagerRya Bodlander Production AssistantJan Schulman Art Director

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Restore Charles ParkDear Editor:

(An open letter to U.S. Sens. CharlesSchumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Rep.Hakeem Jeffries)

Howard Beach took a substantial beatingowing to Superstorm Sandy! Charles Park is theonly green space in the entire area frequented bynot only Queens residents, but by Brooklynitesas well. It is part of Gateway National Recre-ation Area and under the domain of the NationalParks Service.

Charles Park was substantially damaged bythe storm, such that trees have been destroyedand numerous amounts of previously water-borne debris still litter the area, including atleast a derelict boat or two.

We implore you to make sure that sufficientmoney from the storm relief package be desig-nated towards restoring Charles Park to a decentlevel of usage so that we, your constituents ( andothers) can enjoy this unique urban space!

Dave ShlakmanHoward Beach

Rebuilding RockawayDear Editor:

I urge your readers to work closely with JohnCori of the Friends of Rockaway Beach to helpprotect Queens residents’ lives and property andour coastlines. I support him and he needs yoursupport too.

I believe the government did not protect ourshoreline and our communities. The governmentrefused to fund much-needed sand, jetties, sea-walls and dunes for Queens, Brooklyn and Stat-en Island. Please remember our fallen citizens.

I would also like to get the Major LeagueSoccer stadium and the United States TennisAssociation expansion for Rockaway. And Isupport improved public transit for the Wood-haven Boulevard-Cross Bay Boulevard corridor,including reopening the unused train trackswhich run closely parallel to it. This wouldimprove transportation, create more businessand spread tourism to communities where it’smuch needed. Thank you.

Philip McManusRockaway Park

Blame Bush, not ObamaDear Editor:

Re John LaPorte’s Feb. 21 letter, “You’rewrong on Obama”:

John, you’re on the wrong side of history!

Your deficit and debt remarks did not tellreaders why those are so high. GOP presidentsracked up $11 trillion, vs. $6 trillion for Democ-rats. Remember the credit card spending byBush-43? Two unpaid wars and two huge taxcuts in 2001 and 2003 resulted in his $6 trilliondebt and the recession.

Government spending should be higher nowthan it was in the 1940s. Our population was140 million then, vs. 310 million now.

“Job creation is stuck in neutral” was a falseremark. Under Bush-43, 750,000 were beinglaid off per month. During Obama’s first term,6.2 million jobs were created. Oh yes, GOPgovernors laid off 500,000 public-sector work-ers: police, firefighters, teachers. Corporationsare holding back $2 trillion not invested in theeconomy: why?

Your best remark was that Obama is “clue-less.” Again, weak on facts. Our presidentcrafted the Recovery and Reinvestment Act,the stimulus. We all know that the GOPopposed this, and all other Obama recoveryplans. But boy, when the funds were allocated

LETTERS TO THE DITORE

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The Queens Chronicle is published weekly by Mark I Publications, Inc.at a subscription rate of $19 per year and out of state, $25 per year.Periodicals Postage Paid (USPS0013-572) at Flushing, N.Y.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mark I Publications, Inc.,62-33 Woodhaven Boulevard, Rego Park, N.Y. 11374-7769.

EDITORIAL AGEPPreserve, don’t pervert, Flushing Meadows

We’re tired of Flushing Meadows Corona Park beingthe Rodney Dangerfield of the city’s crown jewelgreen spaces. Why do we in Queens get no respect?

For weeks we’ve been covering Major League Soccer’splan to eat up about a dozen acres of the old fairgrounds fora new stadium. Even leaving aside the myriad logistical,environmental and economic problems with the very vagueplan, we’ve concluded that simply proposing it is offensivebecause Flushing Meadows is a public park — one that’salready suffered enough through city neglect.

Note that one selling point for the stadium is that MLSwould refurbish the soccer fields in the park if its plan isapproved. That should be a city function. But it’s no surprisethat the city isn’t doing its municipal duty at FMCP. Thoughit’s far larger than the city’s true crown jewel, Central Park,the latter gets much more funding and much more staffing.

That discrimination extends to the private sector as well— in fact it’s infinitely worse there. John Paulson, a billion-aire hedge fund manager, donated $100 million to CentralPark last year, a gift believed to be the biggest ever providedby a private citizen to an American park. Make no mistake,he has every right to do so. But at the same time, Flushing

Meadows got $5,000 in donations last year. How sad.Fred Kress of the FMCP Conservancy is one of our park

protectors who wishes things were different. Noting thatPaulson lives across from Central Park but grew up inQueens, Kress told The New York Times, “Central Park isdoing pretty well. I’m not saying he owes anyone anything,but how about you give Central Park $98 million and Flush-ing Meadows Corona Park $2 million? That two millionwould go a lot further in an underappreciated park.”

Underappreciated by the power brokers, the cocktail hourclass and even our elected officials, yes. But not by theworking-class and poor people, many of them immigrants,who live in the neighborhoods surrounding FMCP. Yes, thefact that they litter and tend to damage trees when theydump hot coals out of their barbecue grills is an affront —but one that better code enforcement could put a damper on.Still, the people who come to the park for a break from theconcrete and steel of their neighborhoods love the place.Look at how adamantly many of them oppose the MLS plan— not to mention the much smaller, much more reasonable,much more feasible bid by the United States Tennis Associa-tion to take just another two-thirds of an acre.

While Central Park’s amenities are kept pristine, ourQueens landmarks in Flushing Meadows, such as the NewYork State Pavilion, continue to deteriorate as if this was stillthe crumbling New York City of 1977. Meanwhile, the cityplans to spend $4.5 million to turn the old Astoria Pool div-ing well into an amphitheater, in one of the more overpriced,harebrained schemes we’ve heard of late. How much plainold park maintenance would that money buy at FMCP?

As this page has said before, it’s City CouncilwomanJulissa Ferreras who holds the key to saving the park fromthe MLS plan. If she says no, the rest of the Council will fallin line and that will be that. She’s been noncomittal, andnever said a word to us about laying the future of the park ather feet. We again urge you to urge Ferreras to reject the soc-cer stadium. And now we take it a step further: Demand thatshe and the rest of our City Council delegation start treatingour park the way it should be treated. Fix the soccer fields.Restore the historic structures. Maybe even landmark thepark, as state Sen. Tony Avella is asking — the first personever to do so, according to the city (Prospect Park was land-marked in 1973, Central Park in 1974). And above all,pledge that the long period of neglect at FMCP is over.

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to GOP states, their governorsheld gala ribbon-cutting events.

Remember Obama’s auto bailout plan,opposed by Mitt Romney? It put one millionassembly line workers back on the job. Andwhat did the GOP House do to Obama’sAmerican Jobs Act? It killed it. Hundreds ofthousands of construction workers would berepairing over 70,000 bridges, roads, tunnelsand airports today if it had passed.

Why did the GOP “just say no” to allObama’s recovery agenda? Remember in2010, GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell’sfamous remark, “Our top political priorityover the next two years should be to denyPresident Obama a second term.” Folks, what-ever happened to the GOP’s 2008 presidentialcampaign slogan, “Country first”?

Anthony G. PillaForest Hills

Clueless Chronicle editorDear Editor:

Re “Gov’t must be there for us,” Editorial,Feb. 14:

The federal government’s prime function isto protect and defend the United States and itscitizens against all enemies foreign anddomestic, to protect and defend our bordersand to uphold the Constitution. PresidentObama placed his hand on the Bible andswore to do just that.

Since then, millions of illegal aliens havecrossed the Mexican border; our mission to

Benghazi wasattacked andfour Americansmurdered withno justicesought; NidalHasan murdered13 people at FortHood, Texas,while shouting“Allahu akbar!”and has yet to bebrought to jus-

tice; and Obama granted amnesty to 1.5 mil-lion illegal aliens, against U.S. law, by bypass-ing Congress.

The federal government no longer doesits job. If the president’s oath of allegiancehas become meaningless, why not just doaway with it?

It was the government going into the hous-ing business via Fannie Mae and Freddie Macthat caused the collapse of the Americaneconomy. Sen. Schumer and Gov. Cuomowere major players in that disaster. Now thegovernment is going into the health business.

It took as long as it did to help Sandy vic-tims because our senators once again loadedthe measure with pork projects such as a newroof for a museum in Washington, DC andmoney for Alaskan fisheries. There is no rea-son to be thankful for FEMA’s help. NewYorkers get back less than we send to the fed-eral government in taxes. Egypt gets more.

The Chronicle’s editor mentioned the peopleof Suffolk County, who suffered during the lastsnowstorm in part because their taxes are pri-marily for schooling and not snow plowing,compared to the city, where higher taxes and anew plow-tracking website helped our snow-

plow corps to perform admirably, when in 2010it hadn’t. I would suggest that snow plowersperformed admirably this year because twoyears ago Mayor Bloomberg and his staff gothell for not doing their jobs. At the height of the2010 storm no one was minding the store.Everyone responsible was on vacation. That,“Mr. Editor,” is government spending.

Taxes are not what gets a job done well. It’sconscientious people who take their jobs seri-ously and get fired if they don’t. They don’tsit in rubber rooms and get paid anyway.

Anyone who has ever worked for a govern-ment bureaucracy — and I did for 12 years —knows that of every 10 people on the payroll,three carry the other seven, while half themoney is wasted or stolen and does little forits intended purpose. The larger the bureau-cracy, the more money is wasted or stolen.

It’s shameless for a president who producednot one budget in four years, put the nationtrillions of dollars further into debt withabsolutely nothing to show for it, and nevercut one item from his agenda that he thoughtwould get him to say “We will not cut our wayto prosperity.” Anybody remember the shovel-ready jobs of his 2008 campaign, which hehimself later said never existed? Where didthe “stimulus” money go? Anybody know?Anybody care?

Obama’s “right-wing opponents” neverobjected to paying taxes or footing the bill forObama’s monarchically splendid vacations.Like many who work hard to earn theirmoney, what they object to is seeing it throwndown the toilet, and anyone who’s everworked for government knows that’s wheremost of it goes.

Janice WijnenRego Park

How to stop gun crimeDear Editor:

If federal and state administrations are real-ly serious about reducing gun violence, alongwith removing illegal guns — the main causeof our high crime rate — we would need adraconian revision of government policy.

There are enough laws on the books now,which are followed by licensed, law-abidingpermit holders, and completely disregarded bycriminals. The simple solution is to strictlyenforce the laws already in place, especiallywith the latest compact electronic weaponsdetection scanners now being introduced. Thiswould take the guessing out of the stop-and-frisk practice — we can now stop only thosewho are carrying. If an offender is unlicensed,he should be immediately arrested and commit-ted to a mandatory 25 years imprisonment, withno options for a plea bargain, parole or reducedsentence, plus a fine of $25,000 to be paid bythe end of the term, or another five years ofprison time would be added. This austere solu-tion should radically reduce crime in New York,and federally, overnight if strictly enforced.

This method should find no objection amongupright, law-abiding citizens, including mem-bers of Congress — be they Democrats, Repub-licans, liberals or conservatives — and mostanti-gunners, along with the NRA, WayneLaPierre, and our 80 million legal gun owners.The only complainers I could visualize are the


LETTERSTO THE DITORE

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criminals, the ACLU and the UN.If President Obama strictly implements

these strict measures nationwide, with legisla-tion grandfathering in all present gun permitholders with national authorization, so as to berecognized similarly to how drivers or wed-ding licenses are, along with maintaining strictbackground checks for new permit issues, itshould resolve the problem.

With no leniency for criminals, I am surecrime would be radically reduced or eveneliminated throughout the country, withapproval from those who want guns banished,along with the NRA, whose main prioritiesunder the Second Amendment are with gunsafety and protection from deadly force for our80 million law-abiding gun owners — and notwith criminal encouragement, as some wouldhave you believe.

G. NicholasRichmond Hill

Muni-Meter messDear Editor:

I have experienced problems with brokenand sparse placement of new Muni-Meters inMaspeth (at Grand Avenue, near the supermar-ket), Middle Village (on Eliot Avenue off 80thStreet by Cross County Bank and off 74thStreet near Buon Restaurant), and Forest Hills(on the Queens Boulevard service road acrossfrom Met Food).

The newly placed meters were broken, leav-ing me no option but to run to another onewhich wasn’t nearby to obtain a receipt hopingthat the meter ticket servers would not issue asummons in my absence.

In all instances only one Muni-Meter issupposed to suff ice, but once it is brokeneveryone must race to f ind one that is inworking order.

Who mapped out the placement of thesemeters? There should be at least two or maybethree on each block, depending on its lengthand viability. Business people should be con-cerned as shoppers could find this probleminconvenient as I do.

Adding to this is the placement of a littlereceipt in the front window which must beplaced appropriately because if it is not, a tick-et will be issued. And these receipts are dis-carded everywhere adding to littering and arenot being recycled.

All this is poor planning in my opinion.L. Ciborowski

Middle VillageEditor’s note: The Muni-Meter recently

installed in front of our office on WoodhavenBoulevard in Rego Park has also been brokensince day one.

Obama’s hypocrisyDear Editor:

In a recent op-ed piece in The WashingtonPost, Mark Thiessen noted the latest hypocrisyof the Obama administration.

In his article, Mr. Thiessen recounted howduring last year’s election, Obama’s campaignwent nonstop after Mitt Romney for havinginvestments in the Cayman Islands even thoughMr. Romney did nothing illegal. He noted thatObama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt stat-ed that even though Romney’s actions werelegal “is not technically breaking the law a

high-enough standard for someone who wantsto be president of the United States?”

Now, it turns out that Obama’s pick to beTreasury secretary, Jack Lew, had an invest-ment based in the Cayman Islands. I guess ifyou are a Democratic nominee for a cabinetposition you can get away with things thatwould outrage the far left if a Republicanwere to do the same.

Obama’s hypocrisy is one thing you cannotblame the Republicans for, even though I amsure some will try it. Kool-Aid anyone?

Lenny RodinForest Hills

No Willets Point casinoDear Editor:

There’ve been rumblings and rumorsabout a casino in Willets Point and I ask,why do we need something so destructive inour community?

Casinos are notorious for destroying com-munities that are already teetering on thebrink. Willets Point has the potential to begreat if only we are given a fighting chance.

The current proposal to revive Willets Pointis something the entire community has gottenbehind. We have given up so much to get tothis point that adding a casino will set us back.When we should be talking about jobs, eco-nomic development, improving the pock-marked streets and other infrastructure, we arediscussing further obliteration.

Even elected officials who represent WilletsPoint and the surrounding communities havespoken out against what would be a doomedcasino project. Councilwoman Julissa Fer-reras, whose district encompasses WilletsPoint, stated that “it is unprecedented to con-vert part of an existing economic developmentproject that provides affordable housing andretail jobs for the purpose of building a casino,which would obviously affect the social fabricof the community.”

Andrew Rocco, president of the CollegePoint Civic Association, said our governmentshould focus on investing in the things wealready have instead of creating and investingin the gambling industry. To echo Mr. Rocco’swords, I say we need sound investment in thepeople and cultural institutions that surroundWillets Point.

A casino would not add to revitalization.All it would mean is a loss of jobs and closingof area businesses. Not many can withstandthe onslaught of a casino. There will be noinfusion of tourism dollars to the neighbor-hood. Patrons of the casino will undoubtedlyspend both their money and time inside it.

The current Willets Point Plan, which willbe a great improvement to the community, issomething that has been vetted and approved.Adding a casino was never part of the origi-nal plan. I speak for many who would’venever have supported the restructuring if we’dknown that a casino could be part of thepackage. Instituting something of that magni-tude without our consent is not only unfair,but disrespectful. Do we not get a say in whathappens in or to our community? Are we thatirrelevant?

We ask our legislators to not destroy whatwe are trying to build up. Give us the respectthat you demand, for our community.

Edwin SalasPresident

Statewide Association of Minority BusinessesFlushing

Letterscontinued from page 9

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A state Supreme Court judge inManhattan blocked Gov. Cuomofrom holding back $250 million instate education aid as punishmentfor the city and the teachers unionsfailing to reach an agreement onteacher evaluations by the gover-nor’s Jan. 17 deadline.

In his ruling last Thursdayevening, Judge Manuel Mendezsaid the move would hurt students,who had no say in the teacher eval-uation process.

“Innocent students that had noinfluence over the legislativeprocess or negotiations were poten-tially placed at risk academically,”he wrote, noting that the governorhas threatened to impose an evalua-

tions plan himself by the summer.Cuomo said last week that hewould introduce legislation to takecontrol over implementing a sys-tem in the city himself and have itready by June 1.

The ruling is just a preliminaryinjunction as a lawsuit against thestate initiated by parents makes itsway through the courts, but itmeans the governor cannot with-hold the aid until a decision isreached. Cuomo vowed to appealthe ruling.

The governor had given a Jan.17 deadline for the state’s roughly700 school districts to come upwith teacher evaluation systems.All but five statewide did; one ofthe five being New York City’s.

The city Department of Education

and the United Federation ofTeachers hit an impasse over ateacher evaluations plan just beforethe deadline, with the two mainsticking points being a potentialsunset clause and the number ofarbitration appeals a teacher is enti-tled to after being removed. Theyused the court decision as anopportunity to blame each other forthe case.

“If the mayor had not blown upthe teacher evaluation deal, this law-suit wouldn’t have been necessary,”a UFT official said on Monday.

“We’ve said all along that stu-dents should not be penalized forthe UFT’s failure to negotiate, andour goal has been and continues tobe a fair and effective evaluationsystem,” Deputy Mayor Howard

Wolfson said. Dmytro Fedkowskyj, Queens’

representative on the Panel forEducational Policy, welcomed theruling and said losing the moneywould only further hurt students’education.

“I’m glad it was legally chal-lenged,” he said. “The full amount ofNew York’s basic state aid funding isneeded to provide a sound and bal-anced education for all of our stu-dents, which will not occur if the$250 million is taken back. Retain-ing and hiring new teachers is ofparamount concern; it’s the only waywe can attempt to reduce class size.”

The suit was brought by attorneyMichael Rebell, on behalf ofdozens of public school parents,and was filed on Feb. 5. Q

Court rules Cuomo can’t hold back aidState withholding $250M in school funding over evaluations deal failure

Gov. Cuomo cannot withhold $250million in state education fundingbecause the city and the UFT did notreach a deal on teacher evaluations,a state Supreme Court judge ruledlast week. FILE PHOTO F

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For many victims of Hurricane Sandy, fil-ing tax returns is probably not on the top oftheir to-do list, with hundreds still out oftheir homes, and for many of those who areliving in their residences, still in the processof fixing them.

But once those W-2s and W-4s come and1040s get picked up, Sandy’s stressed sur-vivors have another headache to contendwith:

How do I handle my hurricane losses inmy tax returns?

This question is even new to the accoun-tants who are handling thereturns of many storm vic-tims. For CPA Robert Eier-man of Eierman &Schulken Associates, Inc.,an accounting off ice inHoward Beach, it’s been alearning experience. “I hadto learn everything I neededto know for this,” he said.

Sitting at his desk inhis off ice near ColemanSquare, Eierman notes that Sandy has evenaffected him personally. The water linefrom the storm surge is still faintly visibleon the walls of his off ice, which wasdestroyed in Sandy. Noting that he had towork overtime to get his office back togeth-er by the time tax season began in earlyJanuary, Eierman said from his view, manySandy survivors have not yet thought abouttax returns.

“I don’t think a lot of people are ready tothink about taxes yet,” he said.

One reason, Eierman said, is that manyresidents are still waiting for checks frominsurance companies and they would need acheck to declare the losses on their tax

returns. He was trying to make peopleaware that their tax returns can be amendedafter April 15 if certain information is notknown for sure by the time returns are filed.

“For many, it is impossible to tell what thelosses will ultimately be. You can alwaysamend your returns or ask for an extension,”Eierman explained, adding that 2011 returnscan also be amended to include disaster loss-es. “In federal disaster areas, you can carry itback a year.”

Typically, the federal government willwaive the “10 percent rule,” under which youwould deduct 10 percent of your income, aswell as $100, from your disaster loss to

determine how much of itcan be deducted — aftercertain disasters, but thathas not been done afterSandy. An amendment towaive the 10 percent rulewas introduced as part ofthe Sandy aid bill lastyear, but died in commit-tee in the House of Rep-resentatives in Decemberand has not been consid-

ered by the new Congress. Eierman strongly suggests that victims

document every loss, including obtainingquotes from contractors for necessaryreplacements and keep proof of the “bluebook” value for automobiles that were lost inthe storm. He also encourages residents tokeep pictures and videos of damage and con-tents in the home which may have been lostin the storm. He suggests keeping an item-ized list of one’s property, keeping receipts— especially for items bought related toHurricane Sandy and for any cleaning orrepairs that were done to the home — andkeeping cancelled checks, credit card state-ments and other proof of cost.

“You will need to provide proof of every-thing for the IRS,” Eierman said.

He further suggests Sandy victims whotypically do their own taxes and are not surehow to navigate the tax code with disasterlosses get them done professionally this year.

Eierman said he has been seeing newclients since the storm who have come to askquestions on what they should do.

In the meantime, the Internal RevenueService had special workshops through themonth of February in LeFrak City to helppeople understand how Sandy would affect

their taxes. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NewYork) sent a letter to IRS CommissionerDouglas Schulman asking him to open helpcenters in hard-hit areas like the Rockawaysin order to help more victims one-on-one.

“Home and business owners impacted bySandy can get some relief through the taxcode, but far too few actually know how,”Schumer said. “The IRS has the right idea inproviding these services at their taxpayerassistance centers, but these services shouldbe located in the hardest hit neighborhoods tomaximize the benefit.” Q

Sandy victims face confusing tax timeQuestions over how to declare losses swamp local accountants

Residents in neighborhoods hard-hit by Hurricane Sandy, including the Rockaways, above, arepreparing to file their first tax returns since the storm and are asking plenty of questions aboutwhat losses they can deduct and how to declare them. FILE PHOTOS

“I don’t think a lotof people areready to thinkabout taxes yet.”

— Robert Eierman, CPA

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A provision of recently enacted state legisla-tion designed to tackle the abuse of highlyaddictive painkillers by monitoring and limitingprescriptions took effect on Feb. 23.

The I-STOP law, backed by AssemblymanMike Miller (D-Woodhaven), now requiresdrugs containing hydrocodone, such as Vicodin,to be limited to a 30-day prescription whileeliminating automatic refills for f irst-timepatients.

The provision also requires the increasedmonitoring by doctors of the distribution of tra-madol, a drug common in most prescriptionpain relievers.

“Taking action to prevent the abuse of pre-scription drugs is a necessity in order toincrease the safety and well-being of Queensfamilies,” Miller said in a press release. “I-STOP takes proactive steps to ensure the healthand safety of Queens families and all NewYorkers by making sure highly addictive pre-scription drugs are kept out of the hands ofpotential abusers.”

The I-STOP law, short for the Internet Sys-tem for Tracking Over-Prescribing, was intro-duced to the state Legislature by Attorney Gen-eral Eric Schneiderman last year.

The legislation combats over-prescribing byrequiring the state Department of Health toestablish and maintain an online controlled

substance reporting system to track the pre-scription and dispensing of painkillers. Itrequires practitioners and pharmacists to reviewa patient’s controlled substance prescription his-tory on the system prior to prescribing.

“It took a while for it to start but the 23rdwas the magic day,” Miller said Tuesday viaemail. “This is just one tool in our attempt tokeep people safe.”

Implementation of the drug database will gointo effect this August. And the I-STOP lawwill mandate pharmacists to issue prescriptions

for controlled and non-controlled substanceselectronically, beginning in 2015. The 30-dayprescription rule took effect last week.

“Queens is not immune to the critical prob-lems associated with people who abuse drugs— whether illegal or overprescribed,” QueensDistrict Attorney Richard Brown said viaemail. “The I-STOP legislation is a significantstep in addressing the problems of overpre-scribing.”

Gerard Ruiz, director of the CreedmoorAddiction Treatment Center in Queens Village,

believes the new provision will help those in themedical field limit the abuse of prescriptiondrugs.

“ Any legislation preventing the misuse ofany harmful drug is a good thing,” he said.“About a fourth of our patients have issues withpainkillers.”

A former painkiller addict attending St.John’s University, who asked to remain anony-mous, supports the I-STOP legislation and itsmost recent provision. He said that it was the“right thing to do.”

“It’s a step in the right direction becausetrying to get off of painkillers by yourself isvery difficult,” he said. “I needed it more andmore every day but I was lucky enough to goto a doctor and have the willpower to fightthrough it.”

According to a study released in 2011 by thecity Department of Health and Mental Hygiene,there was a 40 percent increase in the amountof abuse of prescription pain-reliever medica-tion by New Yorkers over the age of 12 from2002 to 2009. The same study also showed thatin 2009, Queens doctors issued hydrocodoneand oxycodone, both prescription pain-relievingmedications, almost 400,000 times.

One of I-STOP’s ongoing initiatives is theSafe Disposal Program, a campaign designed toprovide a location for New Yorkers to disposeof expired and unneeded prescription drugs toensure they are not left for others. Q

New law aims to fight painkiller addictionBill creating database to prevent prescription drug abuse in effect

A study conducted by the state Department of Health chronicled annual increases in issued pre-scriptions of hydrocodone and oxycodone. CHART COURTESY NYS ATTORNEY GENERAL

(left)

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by Stephen GeffonChronicle Contributor

In the wake of a pattern of burglaries and robberies in partsof southern Queens, the 106th Precinct commanding officer,Deputy Inspector Thomas Pascale, believes it is important toagain offer tips to residents on protecting themselves and theirproperty.

Pascale hosted a crime prevention seminar on Feb. 20 at theprecinct in Ozone Park in conjunction with Capt. Henry Saut-ner, commanding officer of the 102nd Precinct, and officersfrom the borough’s crime prevention unit.

Although NYPD crime statistics for the 106th Precinctshowed that burglaries have remained fairly steady and the num-ber of robberies and auto thefts have dropped so far this yearcompared to this time last last year, Pascale acknowledged at aCommunity Board 10 meeting last month that burglaries havebeen an ongoing issue in South Richmond Hill, South OzonePark and more recently in parts of Howard Beach. Statistics alsoshow grand larcenies are up this year.

In Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park, break-ins havebeen an issue at Hindu households, where robbers know gold,cash and jewelry are kept, many of them religious items.

“Take steps to protect your assets,” said Pascale who urgedthe homeowners to rent a bank safety deposit box to put theirvaluables in, instead of keeping them in their home, anddeposit the cash in a bank account. He also suggested thatthey may want to put good safes in their homes, bolted to thefloor.

Pascale said he was also concerned with people stealingiPhones, iPads and related products, noting that thefts of Appleproducts represent about 20 to 30 percent of the precinct’sreported thefts. He asked residents to be discrete when they use

smartphones, especially when they get off a train.“Be aware of your surroundings,” he said. Pascale also asked the audience members to record the seri-

al numbers of the electronics they purchase and list them with

the police so that if a device is stolen and recovered officerscan contact the owner. He also discussed the steps police taketo prevent burglaries in the community.

Precinct burglary reports are analyzed, patterns are devel-oped and resources are allocated to the affected areas, heexplained.

“Burglaries are a very, very serious crime,” said Pascale, whoadded that he goes to as many burglarized homes as he can.

He said precinct officers conduct a very thorough investi-gation when they respond to a burglary, including how theperpetrator entered and exited the home, interviews withneighbors and a detailed description of the property that wasstolen. He added that the Polic Department’s evidence collec-tion team is dispatched to each scene and takes fingerprintand DNA evidence.

Discussing the burglaries in the community, Pascale said theperpetrators are believed to be driving around in late-modelrental cars, such as Nissan Altimas and Chevy Impalas. Headded that usually three individuals ride in each car. Two indi-viduals will get out of the car on a residential block and knockon the front doors of homes while the third at a given houseacts as the lookout. If no one answers they will then go aroundto the back and kick in the back door.

Pascale urged residents to look out for their neighbors andcall 911 if they see suspiciously acting individuals who appearto be aimlessly walking around the neighborhood or latemodel vehicles driving slowly down the street with the occu-pants looking at homes on the block.

“The No. 1 burglary deterrent is a dog,” said Sergeant RyanKenny of the NYPD Queens South crime prevention unit, whohas two German Shepherds himself. He warned the audience

Cops warn of string of home burglariesHouses in Howard Beach, South Ozone Park targeted by thieves


Deputy Inspector Thomas Pascale, left, commanding officer ofthe 106th Precinct, and Sgt. Ryan Kenny discuss safety tips ata special crime prevention meeting at the 106th Precinct onFeb. 20. PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFON

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An 84-year-old was the victim of a hit-and-run incident in Kew Gardens on Tues-day morning, police officials said.

The victim, whose name had not beenreleased by press time, was struck by a carthat went onto the sidewalk in front of aUPS Store on Queens Boulevard and thensmashed through the windows of the store.

Police officials said the suspect, 64-year-old William Gallagher, drove off and wasarrested by officers a block away from thescene of the crime after they were contact-ed at 8:43 a.m.

One of the victim’s feet was severed, as

he was buried under piles of shattered glassand brick for several minutes. He wasrushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Centerand listed in stable condition. No otherinjuries were reported.

The UPS Store was closed and empty atthe time of the incident.

Eyewitnesses told police officials that itlooked like Gallagher was trying to parkhis car and accidently hit the gas pedalinstead of the brake.

As of Tuesday afternoon, he was in policecustody and awaiting a court hearing.

— Ramiro S. FunezQ

Hit-and-run on elderly man

The city Department of Transportationheld a bike safety event at the SouthQueens Boys & Girls Club in the SQB&GCmultipurpose room at 110-04 Atlantic Ave.in Richmond Hill Tuesday evening. Childrenand some teenagers were given free bikehelmets, top, and also had them fitted by

DOT staff, above. Free information about bike safety in

New York City, as well as bike maps of allfive boroughs, were handed out.

The SQB&GC co-sponsored the event withthe Ozone Park Kiwanis and state Sen. JoeAddabbo Jr.

PHOTOS BY DOMENICK RAFTER

Fitting kids for bike safety

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Queens got a peek this week at the poten-tial Major League Soccer stadium plannedfor Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

Well … Kind of.A presentation by SHoP Architects’ prin-

cipal Gregg Pasquarelli to students atColumbia University was posted onYouTube. It included images of an arena inwhat is clearly Flushing Meadows CoronaPark, which found their way online.

The renderings quickly spread on theweb, with many mistakenly pointing tothem as MLS’s planned structures. But tech-nically speaking, that design is a placehold-er until the franchise’s owner hires its own

architect, according to MLS President MarkAbbott.

“This was simply a concept drawing thatwas done only to help determine the poten-tial height and footprint,” he said in a state-ment. “Any assertion that these drawingsrepresent what a stadium will look like inQueens is wrong.”

SHoP is one of more than a handful ofentities hired by MLS during the project’searly design phase, contracted to do assess-ments before it starts formally navigatingthe Uniform Land Use Review Procedure.

The architectural f irm’s role in theprocess is simply to offer the scale of theproposed stadium. But its work with MLSso far offers no promise that it will actuallydesign the final product.

“These drawings do not represent whatthe stadium will look like,” Abbott said inthe statement. “In fact, we haven’t selectedan architect yet and will not start the designprocess until we have an owner for theclub.”

The renderings’ temporary status wasn’tenough to stymie the ire of various opposi-tion groups, who have opposed the stadiumproposal since its inception.

“This is a nightmare; now we know whyMLS has been trying so hard to keep ren-derings of the stadium out of the publiceye,” said Geoffrey Croft of Save Flushing

Meadows Corona Park. “This is massive.The stadium represents the equivalent ofparking three enormous aircraft carriers inthe middle of a public park.”

The ongoing controversy over a soccerstadium in the park has died down some-what, as MLS’s outreach effor ts have

slowed as the league approaches certifica-tion to initiate ULURP.

The league’s proposed $300 million,25,000-seat stadium at the current site ofthe Pool of Industry would take up 10 to 13acres of parkland, which MLS has promisedto replace elsewhere. Q

So, about those MLS renderings ...League says leaked SHoP images are not actual stadium proposal

A rendering of a potential Major League Soccer stadium by SHoP Architects, a firm doing initialdesign study work but not guaranteed to be the brains behind the final proposal, leaked online.MLS said the renderings are not representative of the proposed stadium. IMAGES BY YOUTUBE

A negative of the soccer stadium renderingdrawn up by SHoP Architects.

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by Stephen GeffonChronicle Contributor

As the old adage goes, “Ifsomething sounds too goodto be true, it probably is.”

Lou, a senior citizen fromLindenwood, who did notwant to give his last name,said that he recently receiveda letter telling him that hehad won a $15,000 cashprize. All he had to do wassend in a $9 registration fee.

“Take the $9 out of theprize,” Lou wrote back.

He never received a reply.The “free prize” scam is

just one of many cons beingperpetrated on senior citizensaccording to CouncilmanPeter Vallone (D-Astoria),chairman of the Public SafetyCommittee and a candidatefor Queens borough presi-dent, who also discussed sev-eral other kinds of scams atthe Catholic CharitiesHoward Beach Senior Centeron Feb. 19.

“Don’t buy from anyonewho comes to your home orcalls you on the phone,” Val-lone warned the audience,noting that many scammers target seniorcitizens.

He urged them to tell any salesman whocomes to their house to leave their literature.

“They will never do that,” said Vallone,adding, “They don’t want you to know whothey are.”

He alerted the seniors to the “Nigerian let-ter scam” in which people are contacted bysomeone from Nigeria and offered millionsof dollars if only they will transfer moneyfrom a foreign bank account to their own forsafekeeping. When someone agrees, they areasked to pay huge transfer fees or legalexpenses, but receive no money.

Vallone also discussed the “grandparentscam” in which someone pretending to bethe victim’s grandchild will send an emailasking for money to solve an unexpectedfinancial problem to be paid via WesternUnion or MoneyGram, which don’t alwaysrequire identification to collect.

Noting the upsurge in computer viruses,Vallone also warned the seniors not to clickon an unknown email. Opening one mayunleash a computer virus on their computer,trashing it or stealing personal information.

“It’s serious, serious business,” Vallone said.Among other scams that consumer protec-

tion authorities warn seniors to be wary of arecounterfeit prescription drugs; funeral and

cemetery scams in which the scammers seekto take advantage of the grieving widow orwidower; fraudulent anti-aging products; tele-marketing scams such as the fake charity plea;investment schemes that invite people to par-ticipate in an investment opportunity andpromise spectacular profits with no risk, butcost money; work-at-home scams; vacationand travel scams; Internet fraud and sweep-stake and lottery scams.

Vallone noted that even a city council-man is not immune from being targeted byscammers. In an interview after the meet-ing, he said he was recently targeted in anemail scam. He received two similar emails,one purporting to be from a newspaperreporter friend and another allegedly from acolleague.

In this ploy, which has become morecommon, con artists hijack an actual emailaddress, so the target can easily think themessage is legitimate.

The first email stated that the reporter wastraveling abroad and was in a foreign hospi-tal and needed money wired for the bill, thesecond email stated that the colleague was injail as a result of a bar fight and needed bailmoney wired. Vallone called his colleague onhis cell phone to confirm the email and wastold by the colleague that he was in his officedown the hall from Vallone. Q

Howard Beach seniorswarned of scammers Elderly conned by prize promises,warnings of loved ones in trouble

Councilman Peter Vallone, who is running for borough president,speaks to seniors at the Catholic Charities Howard Beach SeniorCenter in St. Helen’s Father Dooley Hall on Feb. 19, about howto avoid falling victim to scammers. PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFON

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The Sanitation Department has againextended its special debris collection inneighborhood, hit hard by HurricaneSandy.

The pickups will now continue untilMarch 18.

The department has been collectinghousehold debris, including soggy furni-ture, drywall and other items, tossed outafter the storm in communities hit thehardest by the hurricane’s storm surge,including Howard Beach, Broad Channeland the Rockaways since the Oct. 29storm. The collections were first due toend Jan. 1, but were extended twice —to Jan. 14 and then Feb. 18 — due tocontinued need, especially in the Rock-aways. This new date marks the thirdextension.

A Sanitation Dept. spokesperson alsosaid that some debris collection days weremissed due to the blizzard that struck onFeb. 8.

Small quantities of construction and

demolition debris resulting from workdone by homeowners will continue to bepicked up on regularly scheduled refusecollection days provided it is properlybundled. Wood may not be more than 4feet in length and must be tied up securely.DSNY crews will pick up a maximum of10 bulky items per home.

Bulk and construction debris generat-ed by hired contractors or fee-for-servicepersonnel on home repair or renovationprojects is considered commercial wasteand it is the responsibility of the contrac-tor to arrange for appropriate private dis-posal.

Though the number of curbside debrispiles have dwindled since the storm, espe-cially in Howard Beach, they are reappear-ing in a few areas as residents begin reno-vating their homes after waiting for insur-ance checks to clear.

The Sanitation Dept. says since thehurricane, it has collected more than415,000 tons of debris in southernQueens, Brooklyn and coastal StatenIsland alone. Q

Storm debris pickups end March 18

Sanitation extendsSandy collections


St. Helen Roman Catholic Church inHoward Beach has installed a new systemto help hearing-impaired parishioners.

The induction loop — alsocalled a hearing loop — wasinstalled by Acoustic LoopInnovations, a subsidiary of theHoward Beach-based HarmonyHearing & Speech Center, inthe church’s nave in December.It helps people with hearingaids equipped with telecoilshear Mass more clearly.

The hearing loop consists ofa copper wire that is connectedto an amplifier. The wire was installedaround the perimeter of the nave and is con-nected to the church’s sound system andmicrophone at the pulpit.

The system works by creating a magneticfield strong enough to send an audio signalto the t-coil — a loop of wire within mosthearing aids and some cochlear implants.Hearing devices with the t-coils in a correct

position will allow sound coming from thecopper wires to be heard clearly and dis-cretely, with all background noise eliminat-ed. They essentially become tiny, wirelessloudspeakers.

The induction loop at St.Helen will allow hearing aidsto pick up hymns and sermonswhile filtering out backgroundnoise, such as coughs, sneezes,and other sounds originatingfrom the pews.

Dr. Carol Letzter and Dr.Roseann Spatz from HarmonyHearing & Speech Center saidin a statement that they werelooking to bring hearing loops

to other houses of worship, and that St.Helen is the first in Queens to install one.

“Our hope is to have hearing loops inevery house of worship one loop at atime so that every individual with hear-ing loss has the same opportunity toenjoy participating in the service justlike individuals who do not have prob-lems hearing,” they said. Q

Easy listening at St. Helen Church

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The NYPD is searching for a missingOzone Park teenager.

Christopher Hill, who lives at 88-16 102Rd., was last seen in front of a store locatedat 80-32 Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven onFriday, Feb. 22 at 11:30 a.m. Hill, 19, isdescribed as being a white male, 5-foot-7and 150 pounds, with brown eyes and blackhair. He was last seen wearing black Nikesneakers with a red swoosh.

Anyone with information is asked to callCrime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS(8477). The public can also submit tips bylogging onto nypdcrimestoppers.com, or bytexting 274637 (CRIMES), then enteringTIP577. All tips are strictly confidential.

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Twenty city middle and high schools,including six in Queens, have been cho-sen to take part in the new computer sci-ence program focusing on software engi-neering.

The curriculum, announced by MayorBloomberg at his State of the City addressearlier this year, will kick off in the 20schools in September.

The six schools in the borough that willtake part in the pilot program are: theQueens Vocational & Technical HighSchool in Sunnyside; MS 74 in Bayside;JHS 185 in Flushing; Pathways CollegePreparatory School and the CambriaHeights Academy, both in Hollis and JHS157 in Forest Hills. They were selectedthrough a competitive application processthat evaluated the schools’ current technol-ogy offerings and how the program couldhelp grow and sustain the programming.

The schools will receive a comprehen-sive computer science and software engi-neering curriculum for the 1,000 stu-

dents this fall. By 2016, the programwill grow to 3,500 students. In the firstyear, the core topics to be taught includecomputer programming, embedded elec-tronics, web design and programming, e-textiles, robotics and mobile computing.There will also be elective classesoffered in digital fabrication, 3-D print-ing and animation.

Bloomberg said the program is aimedat preparing city students for careers in thetechnology sector.

“We know it’s vital to prepare our chil-dren to succeed in an increasingly technol-ogy-centered economy and the softwareengineering pilot will help us do just that,”he said. “This groundbreaking programwill ensure that more students receivecomputer science and software engineer-ing instruction so that they can competefor the tech jobs that are increasinglybecoming a part of our city’s economy.We’re creating the home-grown workforceour city needs and teaching our studentsskills that will open up new doors forthem and their future.” Q

Six Queens schools chosen for pilot

DOE announces newsoftware program operated, allegedly in contrary to it’s

statement in its 2009 filing with the citythat no principal owner or off icer ormember of his or her immediate familyhad an ownership interest in any realproperty used by the the group;

• that the UHCC allegedly paid morethan $136,000 in purported food servicecharges to Rajukumar individually,rather than to his business, then-calledSingh’s Roti Shop, a fact uncovered anddocumented by the DFTA in 2007, andcontinued to pay Rajukumar individual-ly through June 2009, contrary toDFTA's express direction; and

• Rajukumar and his wife allegedlyobtained more than $49,000 in Medicaidbenef its while f iling applications inwhich they failed to report assets andincome, including his ownership of andtrue income from the roti shop.

Fraud at taxpayer-funded nonprofits inQueens and elsewhere in the city has got-ten increased attention of late, with inves-tigations into former state Sen. ShirleyHuntley of Jamaica and Pedro Espada ofthe Bronx as well as former Assembly-man Brian McLaughlin of Flushing andthe late Estelle Cooper, a former assistantparks commissioner, who was accused ofswindling money from a nonprofit sheset up aimed at cleaning Flushing Mead-ows Corona Park. Q

UHCC arrests continued from page 5

SQ page 23

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by Maria A. ThomsonExecutive Director GWDC

Recently with all of the awards shows — the“Golden Globes,” “The Grammys” and thisweek’s “Academy Awards” the awardees givethanks to those who brought them to the pinnacleof their success. The best thanks were voiced bywinners who paid tribute to their parents for theirsuccess. It made me think of my parents and allparents and how they influence their children intoadulthood and what they become. So, pause tothank your parents personally or spiritually forthey made you the unique person you are.

As we approach the end of February, welook forward to the arrival of warmer weatherand spring in 23 days and in 13 days DaylightSavings Time. Remember to leave your porchlights on, all night long.

Also with the warmer weather and it beinglighter later, you can do your shopping on your“Everything Avenue” Woodhaven’s JamaicaAvenue, from Dexter Court to 100th Street.When you come home from work on our newlypainted elevated J line, you can buy woman’sclothes, men’s shirts, ties or suits or pick up din-ner or eat out and still get home before dark.

As you know we now have Muni-Meterson Jamaica Avenue. Since their installation Ihave received some feedback as to their use. Iam now asking for more of your thinking, asto if they are properly placed within accept-able walking distances. If you think thatthere should be another meter placed in a

certain area on the avenue, call our office at(718) 805-0202 or (718) 805-0760 to advisethe exact location involved.

Notes: Our Woodhaven library will beclosed as of Monday, March 11 for renova-tions. A temporary library will be in thelower level of the library. To access thisarea, you can use the 85th Drive entrance.

The Queens Park Rangers are offering afree Conservation Corps program. It is a greatopportunity for high school-aged youth to earncommunity service credits. You can work out-doors, learn about your park and help improveit. For more information, call (212) 360-2774.

The New York City labor market has stat-ed that two of the fastest fields of employ-ment are the travelers accomodation hotelindustry and healthcare.

If you want to be notified by emails or textmessages of emergency alerts regarding fires,safety hazards, school closings or weather alertsyou can register for this program by calling 311.

Whenever you consider not voting — foryou think your vote won’t count — think of lastweek’s New York City Council election, whereonly 26 votes separated the two candidates.

The next Greater Woodhaven DevelopmentCorporation meeting will be on Tuesday, April23, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle’s88th Street cafeteria. We intend to have someexcellent guests, so please mark your calendars.

God bless our armed forces and may Godbless America. Q

WOODHAVEN EVELOPMENTSDThe countdown is on for spring

by the director at the time who wanted towork close to home,” Zausner said inresponse. “I don’t think he spent much timethinking about corporate taxes.”

But all opponents contend such planswould never be proposed for Central orProspect Parks.

Which leads back Abramowitz’s tenure. To put it bluntly, the guy was lucky.

Armed with $200 million in capital funding,he was able to replace tiling around theFlushing Meadows, clean its various iconicstructures and add new plantings.

Even the USTA expansion in 1993 pro-vided the funding that would ultimatelycreate the park’s ice skating rink andswimming pool.

But the largesse wasn’t completely free:the city installed a 40-million-gallon sewageoverflow tank at the east end of the FlushingMeadows, according to Abramowitz.

“This park has sacrificed enough for thecity,” he often says.

Agency employees were sizable duringAbramowitz’s tenure, totaling 45 full-timers.

Today, that number stands at 14, with 32seasonal employees lending a hand duringthe busier months. (Compare that with the367 employees Central Park Conservancyemployees in Manhattan, or 263 ProspectPark Alliance employees in Brooklyn).

Even the park’s acreage experiencesbizarre fluctuations. According to the Parks

Department website, it’s either 897 acres, or1,255 acres. Depends on where you click.

The agency has yet to explain the discrep-ancy after repeated requests.

It begs the question: Is anyone a goodneighbor to the park?

The city’s Landmarks PreservationCommission has a special designation itaffords to parks: a scenic landmark.Prospect Park was designated in 1973;Central Park in 1974.

The LPC has a relatively low hurdle tocross in order to initiate the process that maylead to the protective designation: ask.

After decades, someone finally askedLPC to review Flushing Meadows Park forpossible designation. It came last week, inthe form of a letter by state Sen. Tony Avella(D-Bayside).

And so as community boards invariablyecho Haken, asking what they can “get outof ” the USTA, Abramowitz suggests you askwhat more can the park give?

In a walk around the National Tennis Cen-ter, the former parks administrator noted theUSTA’s entire layout faces inward andignores the park that is its home. Its officesgander upon adjacent facilities; it’s theirgarbage Dumpsters that face out.

While leaving the USTA’s grounds, it’shard to ignore the statue of Arthur Ashe fac-ing the stadium that bears the tennis legend’sname. His derriere, it should be noted, pro-trudes out toward the Unisphere. Q

USTA and Flushing Meadowscontinued from page 2

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to beware of individuals who knock ontheir door offering a free vacuum clean-ing of their home or a free chimneyinspection.

“These people are con artists,” saidKenny.

He added that a homeowner mayunintentionally give out information tothe individual like, “Come back tomor-row at 7 p.m., we all work during theday,” letting the individual know thatnobody is home during the day.

One of the ways burglars enter homesis to push in air conditioners, Crime Pre-vention Officer Robert Semler told theaudience, advising residents to makesure that their air conditioners aresecured.

“Don’t leave a ladder outside yourhome to make it easy for a burglar toclimb in,” he warned, adding that mailaccumulating in the mailbox is sign toburglars that residents are not home.

“Leave a light on, turn on the TV orradio when you leave your house,” healso suggested.

Kenny informed residents that policewill perform free of charge a home secu-rity survey. Community residents cancall the 106th Precinct CommunityAffairs Unit at (718)-845-2228 or thecrime prevention unit at (718)-845-2223to arrange for the survey. Q

Crime meetingcontinued from page 15

by Josey BartlettEditor

The family of Noel Polanco, the 22-year-old National Guardsmanshot and killed by a policedetective during a traff icstop in October, intends tosue the city for $20 million,according to their lawyer,Sanford Rubenstein.

A grand jury declined toindict Detect ive HassanHamdy, who said hethought the vict im wasreaching for a weaponunder the driver’s seat as heapproached the car. QueensDistrict Attorney RichardBrown announced the grandjury’s decision on Feb. 14.

A wrongful death noticeof claim against the cityand Hamdy was f iled on Feb. 21. A jurywill decide how much the family can ask

for in their lawsuit, Rubenstein said, butthe claim asks for $20 million.

“Mrs. Reyes believes that this detective,Detective Hamdy, should beheld accountable for thewrongful death of her son,”Rubenstein told the QueensChronicle.

Although a grand jurydecided not to move for-ward with charges, the bur-den of proof is different ina civil case. The family isalso asking the U.S. Attor-ney’s Off ice to investigatethe case on the federallevel.

Polanco’s mother, CeciliaReyes, has been publiclyseeking justice for her sonsince his death. She joinedthe Rev. Al Sharpton rally

last Saturday at the National Action Net-work headquarters in Harlem. Q

Noel Polanco’sfamily plans to sueGuardsman killed by NYPD officer;his relatives seek $20M in suit

Noel Polanco was shot dead bya police detective in October.

FACEBOOK PHOTO


A plaster whale covered with brightly col-ored sea glass and tiles once looked over sun-bathers at Beach 94th Street in the Rockaways.

But when Hurricane Sandy hit in October,she took “Whalemina” out to sea.

“I’m the whale guy,” Geoff Rawling said.“But we plan to rebuild.”

Rawling — the Rockaway artist behind therevitalization of Whalemina, which once satforlorn at the Central Park Zoo — came withabout 10 other members and friends of theRockaway Artists Alliance to Materials for theArts in Long Island City to create art last Fri-day night.

It was the first time the group had met sincethe storm.

“This is a nice diversion from what we aredealing with at home,” Rockaway resident andGirl Scout leader Lori Creamer said.

MFTA, a city-run program where nonprof-its and educators can gather supplies for theirnext project, provided items from glue tofeather boas to markers and cardboard.

RAA President Sophia Skeans held up athin white blanket with the Red Cross emblemdotting its surface. She critically said the meet-ing would be a good time for Rockaway resi-dents to improve the flimsy blanket.

“I never got one,” one artist said.“I would like to take my shears to it,”

Creamer said. Creamer’s 14-year-old daughter,Ariel, founded Survivors Silver Lining to con-nect a class or family to a Sandy survivor in aneffort to bridge the gap between volunteers andpeople who need help.

Rawling grabbed a cardboard box and anX-Acto knife with the intent to create a giantglobe, which turned into a circus tent. Otherartists made glittery stars while others createdjewelry.

“It’s nice to have a break from such sadnessat home,” Mandy Francin said. “I’m glad tosee everyone’s faces. The people are what mostimportant.”

Francin ran Art Adventures and More withSkeans. Through their company the duo hosted

biweekly art classes at Fort Tilden, which hasnot reopened since the hurricane. Additionally,many of their art supplies were ruined whenthe tidal surge flooded Francin’s basement inHoward Beach.

“Sitting in the house was like being on acruise ship,” Francin said.

One couple with the RAA lost their homein the fire that destroyed more than 100 homesin Breezy Point. Other artists at Friday’s eventretold how they saw fish swimming through

their neighbors’ apartment lobbies in the daysfollowing the storm and updated friends on thecontinuing restoration of their homes.

As for Whalemina, Rawling is searching fora used boat that he hopes will save her fromfuture disasters.

“The hull of the boat will be the hull ofthe whale,” Rawling said. And in case ofanother hurricane, someone with the keyswill jump into the boat and sail Whaleminato safety. Q

Rockaway artists convene post-SandyMaterials for the Arts in LIC opens doors to group ravaged by hurricane

Rockaway Artists Alliance members Elisa Sassera, left, and Mandy Francin gather at the first RAAmeeting since Hurricane Sandy. PHOTOS BY JOSEY BARTLETT

Artist Geoff Rawling begins construction on agiant globe.

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Local filmmaker atQueens Film Festival

Queens native Michael Dusi willappear at the Queens Film Festivalon Wednesday, March 6 at the Jack-son Heights Cinema, 40-31 82 St. at9:30 p.m. for the premiere of hisfilm “MikeyBoy” during the festival.

Dusi and the f ilm’s crew will bepresent for the screening and will beavailable to talk to filmmakers aboutthe movie.

AARP meetingOzone Park AARP Chapter 4163

meets the last Tuesday of everymonth at Christ Lutheran Communi-ty Center, located at 85-15 101 Ave.,Ozone Park.

There are monthly guest speakersand information on enjoyable trips.The next meeting will be on March 26at noon.

New members are welcome. Q

Q

GOT NEWS? SEND IT OUR WAY!EMAIL EDITOR DOMENICK RAFTER

AT [email protected]

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Members of the PS 97 community cele-brated Valentine’s Day and Respect For AllWeek Feb. 14 with a number of activitiesaimed at respecting each other and combat-ing heart disease.

Students at the Forest Park School wereinvited to wear red. All in attendance wroteacts of kindness on hearts and displayedthem in the cafeteria on the Respect For AllWall, seen above. Students expressed theiracts of kindness verbally as well. There alsowas a Zumba class and a reading of “ThereWas an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose.”

Following that activity, parents andguardians in attendance made Valentine pil-lows for their children as they enjoyed choco-late-covered strawberries, which were madeby one of the parents.

Nearly four dozen parents and guardiansattended a workshop aimed at preventingheart disease, and $1 donations were collect-ed from all who wanted to join in supportingthe American Heart Association. A donationwill be made in the name of the school.

The event was supported by Title I ParentInvolvement funding.

PHOTO COURTESY AMELIA JOSEPH

Valentine’s Day at PS 97

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This time around, youwill be more cautious likemany consumers are withtheir choices and costs ...and yet you want to makeobservable changes.

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All of these new designs are available in anew surface effect of alower matte-gloss sheen thatseems almost glazed. The“Glaze” texture is actually alayering of matte featuresover a glaze of semi-gloss.This creates a timewornresult that is less reflectiveand more restrained. It’s aperfect balance for thesophisticated dramaticmaterials that are part oftoday’s kitchen: stainless

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• Refresh your cabinets with a coat ofpaint and change all the cabinet hard-ware in the process. This quick fix makeseverything look new.

• Replace your old ceiling light fixtureand install under cabinet lighting as well.A little light can make a dramatic difference.

• Change your sink or sinks. Consider anew sink when adding a laminate countertop.

Still puzzled by the process or need more

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Gale Steves is a frequent contributor tohome design publications.

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Create new excitement by replacing scratched or stained countertop surfaces with ones made frompremium laminate. They will give your kitchen a whole new look that equals a big change forsmall change.

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Oftentimes, buying a home opens up a bottomless pitof opportunities for projects and improvements. Whilesome homeowners engage in different repairs and fix upsout of necessity, many others like to freshen-up theirspaces out of personal preference instead of need. Buteven the most well-intentioned projects can be waylaid ifbudgets are tight.

What many homeowners may not real-ize is that there are many ways to makeupdates and changes to a home that do notrequire a major overhaul or a large pricetag. The following are seven projects thatwon’t break the bank.

1. Move around furniture. You maybe able to change the look of a roomwithout spending any money. Interiordesigners know how to arrange furniturefor maximum appeal, but the averagehomeowner can do it, too. Find a focalpoint in the room and angle the furnituretoward it. Don’t make the focal point the television, howev-er. Try changing the placement of chairs and sofas. Simplymoving a curio cabinet from one corner to another may alsomake a difference.

2. Add lighting. Lighting at different levels in the room cancreate a vibrant impact. Many homeowners mistakenly put in acouple of table lamps and think that will be adequate. However,properly illuminating a room means varying the lighting to cre-ate different moods at different times. Plus, more light canmake a room feel more welcoming.

3. Add new pillows or drapes. Changing a few aspects ofa room can give it an entirely new look. If you want to add asplash of color but don’t know what to do, think about incor-porating some new throw pillows or change the curtains. Anaccessory here and there in a bright color also can incorpo-rate a new hue without it being overwhelming.

4. Change knobs or small accents.Give a room a new look by focusing onthe small details. Switch out cabinetknobs for something updated and mod-ern. Take inventory of wall outlets andlight switches and think about selectingnew ones that coordinate with your homedecor.

5. Use plants. Empty corners or spotsyou’re not certain how to fill may benefitfrom a plant. Plants are inexpensive waysto add instant color and visual appeal to aroom. Plus, having live plants can help

improve indoor air by filtering out contaminants. A home withplants also feels more cozy.

6. Hang new wall art. It may be time to look at your pho-tos and artwork and make a few adjustments. Finding newprints to hang could instantly change a room’s ambience.And you needn’t spend a lot of money on professional pho-tography, either. Grab your camera and take a few close-upshots of flowers or take in a landscape scene. Many oftoday’s home printers can produce professional-qualityprints in minutes.

7. Try a new coat of paint. After you’ve exhausted otheravenues, choosing a new paint color may be the new lookyou desire. Painting is one of the least expensive yet mostdramatic methods of changing a home’s interior. With dozensof hues to choose from, and new apps that enable you to takesnapshots of things in nature or in your life and match themup to a paint color, you will have scores of opportunities toexplore fresh new colors for your home.

When you get inspired to make improvements to thehome but fear how much it may take out of your wallet,consider inexpensive tricks that can induce a big “wow”factor.

— Metro Creative ConnectionQ

Seven inexpensive ways to update a home now

Throw pillows are accessories that can easily and inexpensivelychange the look of a space.

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Spring is drawing nearer and, for homeowners, now is thetime to shrug off the winter chill and think about homeimprovement plans. Building industry experts say that it’s anideal time to carefully consider and prioritize your plans —both cosmetic and structural.

Understanding what is an essential home improvementand what is purely cosmetic is fundamental for thoselooking to make a smart investment intheir homes. The foundation, for exam-ple, is a key investment area during arenovation project. Hiring an energyrater, inspector or appraiser to examinethe home will give a better sense of therequired work and avoid any subsequentcostly headaches.

If you’re thinking of going green, smallchanges such as using compact fluores-cent light bulbs can contribute to reducingyour home’s carbon footprint. Fluorescentlight bulbs typically have a longer life anduse less energy thereby reducing exces-sive energy waste as well as monthly energy bills.

Investing in energy-efficient appliances is another effec-tive way to live green and add value to your home. Manymodern air conditioners use 30 to 50 percent less energy toproduce the same amount of cool air as air conditionersfrom the 1970s, according to the U.S. Department of Ener-gy. Homeowners with an old central air system can consid-er having a new, more energy-eff icient HVAC systeminstalled. While these may come with an expensive up-frontcost, the savings on energy bills over the long term willprove to be a wise investment.

Additionally, the inclusion of other energy-eff icientappliances such as refrigerators, washing machines anddryers will contribute to lower energy bills.

Another significant way to reduce energy consumptionis to adequately seal the home to stop air leaks by optingfor a smart insulation material. Insulation experts say thathomeowners should survey their house from top to bot-

tom, and assess any trouble spots suchas drafty areas or cold zones whichcould be caused by air leakage.

Air leakage can limit the effectivenessof heating systems and leave you withhigher energy bills. According to Insula-tionSmart.com, floors, walls and ceil-ings can account for up to 31 percent ofair leakage in a home. Spray-foam insu-lation, which can help combat air leak-age, is growing in popularity amongsthomeowners since it is an energy-effi-cient material that delivers year-roundbenefits. Spray-foam insulation, like that

available from Icynene, works well in all types of homesacross the country, regardless of climate.

Spray-foam insulation performs for the life of the proper-ty, ensuring that homeowners enjoy comfortable indoor tem-peratures all year round without overrunning their heatingand cooling equipment. Insulation experts from Icynene notethat quality spray-foam insulation can noticeably reduceheating and cooling costs, in some cases by up to 50 percent.

Additionally, spray-foam insulation helps minimize ran-dom airborne moisture and pollutants from entering thehome, ideal for allergy sufferers. More information on the

effectiveness of spray-foam insulation is available onlineat icynene.com.

Updating your home with cost- and earth-consciousimprovements will provide a multitude of benefits. Notonly will your home be more comfortable, but you’ll besaving money and doing right by the environment.

— BrandpointQ

Shrug off winter with smart home improvement projects

Now is the time for homeowners to think about making yourhome improvement plans. PHOTO COURTESY BRANDPOINT

Cost- and earth-conscious changes will provide a multitude of benefits

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Homeowners take on projectsto improve their homes for a vari-ety of reasons. Some may do so tomake a home more functional,while others may do so toimprove their home’s resale value.

Some homeowners take on ahome improvement project tomake their homes more eco-friendly. Such projects are oftenmistakenly assumed to be costlyundertakings, but there are sever-al cost-effective ways to make ahome more eco-friendly.

• Upgrade your appliances. Ahome improvement project doesnot have to require the use of ahammer and nails or the hiring ofa contractor. A simple homeimprovement project like upgrad-ing older appliances, includingthe washer and dryer, to newer,more efficient models can give ahome a fresh look while reducingenergy consumption. That reduc-tion in energy consumption is abyproduct of the stricter standardsplaced on manufacturers whomust adhere to guidelines to pro-duce products that are more ener-gy-eff icient. For example, theNatural Resources Defense Coun-

cil notes that today’s energy-effi-cient refrigerators will use lessthan half the energy of modelsmade as recently as 15 years ago.

• Add more insulation. Addingmore insulation or replacingolder insulation used to be anespecially laborious process.However, in manyinstances insula-tion can now beadded or upgradedto a home withoutany major recon-struction or demo-lition, reducingthe cost of theproject consider-ably. Adding moreinsulation to ahome can reduceenergy consumption in the winter,when the home will feel warmerand allow you to keep the thermo-stat at a more reasonable number.

• Install high-efficiency waterfixtures. Few people think abouthow much water they consumeover the course of a typical day,but the figures might be eye-open-ing to those who hope to adopt amore eco-friendly lifestyle.

According to the United StatesGeological Survey’s Water Sci-ence School, it’s generally accept-ed that the average person usesbetween 80 and 100 gallons ofwater each day. Showers seemto be especially wasteful, as oldershowerheads might be using as

much as 5 gallonsper minute, or 50gallons of waterduring a 10-minute shower.

Older f ixturesthat consumesuch massiveamounts of watercan be easily anda f f o r d a b l yreplaced withnewer, more effi-

cient fixtures. Today’s high-effi-ciency, low-flow showerheads canprovide a strong shower streamwhile reducing water consump-tion. Such showerheads are alsoless taxing on your water heater,reducing your energy consump-tion as a result. Homeowners canalso install high-efficiency toiletsthat use as little as 1.3 gallons ofwater per flush (compared to older

models that consumed as many as5 gallons per flush). The Environ-mental Protection Agency esti-mates that installing water-effi-cient f ixtures and applianceswould save more than 3 trilliongallons of water and more than$18 billion annually.

• Install a programmablethermostat. Programmable ther-mostats present another afford-able way to improve a home andbenef it the environment. Someof today’s programmable ther-mostats can record personalpreferences and usage and deter-mine the best course of actionfor heating and cooling yourhome. Temperatures can beadjusted room-by-room, and theprogrammable thermostat allowshomeowners to control theirheating and cooling whilethey’re out of the house, ensur-ing they’re not paying to heat orcool an empty house and wastingenergy in doing so.

Home improvement projectsdon’t have to be a grand under-taking, par ticularly when ahomeowner’s goal is to make ahome more eco-friendly. A few

minor and affordable changesmay be all it takes to improve ahome and benef it the environ-ment at the same time.

— Metro Creative ConnectionQ

Cost-effective and eco-friendly home improvements

Installing high-efficiency water fixtures,including a low-flow showerhead, isan affordable and eco-friendly homeimprovement project.

Projects don’t have to be a grand undertaking to benefit the environment

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Kitchen Kraft was a well-known fixturein the Ozone Park neighborhood for nineyears when its owners decided to relocate toRego Park six years ago. Seizing an oppor-tunity to situate themselves in the center ofQueens to better serve the entire boroughwas a no-brainer. The new location at 89-17Metropolitan Avenue is just one block offWoodhaven Boulevard at the intersection ofCooper Avenue.

The owners of Kitchen Krafthave weathered much adversityin the past and have helpedmany of their clients renovatetheir homes after catastrophieslike house fires and floodingbut they never thought theywould number themselvesamong the victims until hurri-cane Sandy hit. In the after-math of the storm, thousands ofhomeowners were overwhelmed by the devas-tation and the monumental task of the massivecleanup and restoration they needed to do toget their lives back to normal.

Though the first floor and basement oftheir own home was destroyed during thestorm at a time when their customers neededthem the most, the owners of Kitchen Kraftgot right to work to helping the storm vic-tims. Never ones to cower from adversity,they managed to f ind the strength andgumption to assist hundreds of storm vic-

tims with restoring their homes while they,themselves, were still living without electric-ity and heat. These are the kind of caring andunderstanding people you will find to assistyou when you visit Kitchen Kraft!

The store carries budget and designerkitchen cabinets; all types of ceramic, porce-lain and stainless steel sinks; thousands ofstyles and colors of granite countertops;

dozens of types of interiordoors; a great selection of finebathroom vanities and ceramicf ixtures; unique decorativemetal, wood and ceramichardware; thousands of lami-nate and ceramic countertopsin a myriad of styles and col-ors, quality bath and kitchenelements to suit any budgetand so much more!

Their attentive staff takes theirtime to sit down with you and help you designthe bath or kitchen of your dreams. Stop in andmake an appointment for them to come to yourhome to take custom measurements and thenthey’ll create a computerized custom-designedkitchen or bath just for you, which they will alsoflawlessly install to your satisfaction.

Kitchen Kraft is located at 89-17 Metro-politan Avenue in Rego Park and is openseven days a week. They accept all majorcredit cards and can be reached by calling(718) 897-1210. Q

Kitchen Kraft: From stormrecovery to designer elegance

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Donovan Richards, former chief of stafffor now-state Sen. James Sanders Jr., hasdeclared himself the winner in the race tosucceed Sanders on the City Council.

After leading PeschaOsina, a candidate from FarRockaway and an aide toAssemblyman Phil Goldfeder(D-Far Rockaway), by 26votes on election night,Richards gained 133 votes inWednesday’s counting ofabsentee ballots while Osinagained 80 votes, expandingRichards’ lead to 79 votes,wide enough to avoid anautomatic recount.

Richards declared victory immediatelyafter the votes were counted and reachedout to his opponent on Twitter.

“Congrats to Pesach Osina on a well-runcampaign. I look forward to working withyou for the betterment of our community,”he said.

Goldfeder, who appeared with Osina onelection night, congratulated RichardsWednesday afternoon.

“Congrats Donovan Richards on awell-run campaign and victory!”Goldfeder said on Twitter. “We are going

to do great things for theRockaways together!”

The race to succeedSanders, who was elected tothe state Senate in Novemberand resigned his seat on theCouncil included eight candi-dates — seven of whom wereblack. Osina had strong sup-port among the OrthodoxJewish population of the dis-trict centered in Far Rock-away. The 31st District

includes Far Rockaway, Arverne, Bayswaterand Edgemere on the Rockaway Peninsulaas well as JFK Airport, Laurelton, Rosedaleand Springfield Gardens.

The city Board of Elections has yet tocertify the results and is expected to do sonext week. Q

BOE will certify final totals next week

Richards tops Osinain unofficial results

Councilman-elect DonovanRichards FILE PHOTO

by Peter C. MastrosimoneEditor-in-Chief

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn(D-Manhattan) has been considered thefrontrunner in this year’s race for mayor allalong, and a new survey by QuinnipiacUniversity serves to bolster her standing,though with one little caveat.

If the Democratic Primary contest wereheld today, 37 percent of voters would casttheir ballots for Quinn, the poll found.That’s more than her three closest competi-tors combined. Public Advocate Bill deBlasio, formerly a city councilman fromBrooklyn, got the nod from 14 percent ofthe poll’s respondents. Bill Thompson, theDemocratic nominee in 2009, when he wasthe city comptroller, came in third at 11percent. And current Comptroller John Liu,who previously had been the councilmanfrom Flushing, was chosen by 9 percent.

Another 27 percent made no selection.Quinn would, however, need at least

another 3 percent to win the primary with-out facing a runoff, which is held if no onegets 40 percent of the vote.

“Council Speaker Christine Quinn isedging up toward that magic 40 percent thatwould make her the Democratic nomineewithout a primary runoff,” said MauriceCarroll, director of the Quinnipiac Univer-sity Polling Institute. “Is that possible in afour-candidate field? We’ll watch as thisdevelops. It’s still early, unless the stateLegislature moves the primary up to June.”

The poll results were announcedWednesday.

Any of the Democratic candidates wouldenjoy an advantage in name recognitionover the Republican nominee, the poll alsofound. In the running on the GOP side areJoe Lhota, a former deputy mayor andMTA chairman, newspaper publisher TomAllon, businessman George Catsimatidis,nonprofit director George McDonald and

former Bronx Bor-ough PresidentAdolfo Carrion.

Lhota may bethe best known ofthe bunch and cer-tainly has the mostexperience in CityHall — he wasdeputy mayor foroperations underRudy Giuliani,and was in thatposition on 9/11.But even he would be trounced by Quinn ifthe election were held today, according toQuinnipiac. Sixty-three percent of respon-dents said they would vote for the councilspeaker in a Quinn-Lhota contest, and only19 percent for the ex-transit chief.

The key problem for Lhota, as well ashis Republican competitors, seems to bethat too few New Yorkers even know whothe GOP candidates are.

“If two-thirds of New Yorkers don’tknow anything about you, can you be elect-ed mayor? That’s the question for Lhota.Every one of the Democrats clobbers him,”Carroll said. “But if Lhota is fairly anony-mous, the other Republican mayoralwannabes are all but invisible.”

Another problem is philosophical.Despite Democrats not fielding a winningmayoral candidate since 1989, the elec-torate still leans left. Quinnipiac found, forexample, that 55 percent of respondentswould be more likely to vote for someonewho supports “raising taxes on thewealthy,” while only 17 percent would beless likely to support that candidate. Twen-ty-six percent said it would make no differ-ence to them.

The poll was conducted from Feb. 20through 25. Much more detailed results canbe found at Quinnipiac’s website. Q

POLITICS AS SUALUIn like Quinn? New pollhas her leading race

City Council SpeakerChristine Quinn

FILE PHOTO

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by Tess McRaeReporter

Gov. Cuomo’s budget proposal for the2013-2014 year may lead to drastic cuts tofood banks and pantries statewide.

The recent proposal sent out in Januarywould downsize spending across the boardbut funding for programs like the HungerPrevention and Nutrition Assistance Programand WIC would be restructured completely.

“Hunger prevention programs have been apart of the state budget since 1984 and todayit is just as revelant as ever,” Triada Stampas,senior director of government relations atFood Bank for New York, said.

Under Cuomo’s proposal, the HungerPrevention and Nutrition Assistance Pro-gram, which provides federal and state fund-ing to food relief organizations would bebundled together with 25 other state pro-grams that would all use a single competitivefunding pool for “Maternal and Child Healthand Nutrition.”

“This will take 10 percent off of some oftheir budgets and these programs are tooimportant to be placed in a pool that doesn’thave enough money to go around,” Stampassaid.

The pool would be handled by the Depart-ment of Health which would divvy up fundsaccording to need, forcing programs to com-pete against one another.

Swami Durga Das of the River Fund, inRichmond Hill, says if the proposal goesthrough, his food bank will automatically beat a disadvantage.

“We’re being put into a bundle labeled asmaternal and child assistance programs,” hesaid. “As a food bank, we don’t serve them

exclusively. The Department of Health couldhold that against us when the time comes formoney to be handed out.”

Food banks have been struggling withbudget cuts over the past decade even withdemand increasing.

“Cuts have been coming gradually

through the years and the recession hit all ofthe pantries in the city hard,” Durga Das said.“Our client list has gone up about 30 percentso we’ve been in need of more funding for awhile.”

Despite state funding for HPNAP stillbeing up in the air, food banks such as TheRiver Fund do receive half of their moneythrough private donors and grants.

Still, Stampas, and eight other food banksin the state have been jointly coordinatingadvocacy around the state, getting promisingresponses from state senators and Assemblymembers.

“We’ve increased competition anddecreased service and there is a problemwith that,” State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. said.“We will keep negotiating as we do and workto get these essential programs the fundingthat they need.”

Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-ForestHills) also disagrees with the proposal.

“Not only will I advocate that the fundingstream stand alone, but that it be restored tothe prior years funding level of $43.9 mil-lion. Recipients of these programs deserve alevel of stability that will not be providedthrough the governor’s proposal” he said.

HPNAP will have another month to con-vince enough of the Senate and Assembly tokeep the funding structure as is. The deadlinefor finalizing the state budget is April 1. Q

Food banks face deep cuts in fundsCuomo proposal would lump 26 aid programs into one budget line

Sandy Storm victims line up to receive produce from The River Fund PHOTO COURTESY THE RIVER FUND

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ATTENTION PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS.IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE FEATURED ON OUR SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT PAGE, CALL LISA LICAUSI, EDUCATION COORDINATOR,AT (718) 205-8000, EXT. 110.

JOHN ADAMS HIGH SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT

Students gain valuable insight with enjoyablelesson before jousting with “Beowulf”

Members of the John Adams HS Varsity Baseball team made a special visit toJamaica Hospital on February 19 to distribute presents to sick children. Picturedleft to right (front row): Carlos Salazar, Tames Vargas, Coach Glenn Beyer, JacobMorillo, Tommy Pimentel, Jordyn Correa and Child Life Specialist Sarah Wassen-bergh; back row: Richie Lebron, Jose Caceres, Andy Paulino and Retired AthleticDirector John O’Donoghue.

English teacher Ms. Kroeger created awonderful lesson in February at the JohnAdams annex building, South Ozone

Park, in order to give her students both a cul-tural and historical taste of the Anglo-Saxonera in preparation for a close reading of theepic poem, Beowulf. She created five stationsthat had information, videos and costumeaccessories to motivate them to want to readthe book.

Station One was titled, “Welcome to MeadHall,” in which Ms. Kroeger made nonalco-holic mead and old-fashioned whole wheatbread that they could sample. At this stationthere was also an Anglo-Saxon recipe bookincluding how to cook things like crustedpigeon and jelly of fish. There were ques-

tions about why the people of that time atewhat they ate.

The second station focused on old English.Students listened to part of the book’s prologuewritten in Old and Modern English, comparedhow the two sounded and looked written out, andthen used the Anglo-Saxon alphabet to write thestatement, “I will pass all my classes.”

Station Three was titled, "Serve Your Kingand Fight," and students watched a video clipabout the methods of fighting and weapons,read information about the types of weaponryused and compared them to the U.S. Militaryfighting tactics. This was also the stationwhere they had the opportunity to try on a war-rior costume and pose with a replica sword,shield and battle ax.

The fourth station was titled, “I Need aHero,” and, here, students watched two shortvideo clips about the qualities of epic heroesand compared these qualities to those ofSuperman and firefighters.

Finally, Station Five was titled, “Paganismto Christianity,” and students watched a shortvideo about paganism and the shift to Chris-tianity, and then read about the pagan holidaysthat the Christians allowed them to keep whichare still celebrated today (such as Halloween,Easter and Christmas). At each station, stu-dents were instructed to complete the task ofwatching, listening, reading or trying on a cos-

tume, and then answering some thought-pro-voking questions that asked stedents howsomething was done, why it was done or tocompare the past to the present.

“I learned a lot about this time periodmyself, and I think a large part of this activitywas not only to motivate my kids, but also tomotivate me,” said Ms. Kroeger.

“I have had several students ask me whenwe are going to start reading “Beowulf,” whichwas my goal. I wanted them to be excitedabout the book and I think activities such asthese helped to do that.”

Ms. Kroeger added that she expects to dosomething similar to this lesson when sheteaches her students the Shakespearean play,“Romeo and Juliet.” PHOTOS COURTESY S KROEGER

The Robotics Team at John AdamsHS, Ozone Park, is shown with tworobots their predecessors built in the

past two years. The robot on the right wasbuilt in 2011 to hang a flotation device on awall. The one on the left was built in 2012to shoot basketballs. The new robot will beprogrammed to shoot a frisbee into a slotand then lift itself off the ground by hook-ing onto a pyramid made of pipes.

The Adams’ Robotics Team will com-pete in the nation-wide FIRST RoboticsCompetition. Each team receives twoboxes of identical parts and has to buildthe robot out of the parts. A video tellsthem what the robot has to do. The com-pleted robots will compete in two-minute matches with their humanbuilders helping.

The sponsors of the team are the BezosFamily Foundation,the Pershing SquareFoundation and theJohn Adams Family.

The advisor of therobotics team is Mr.Efrain Cruz.

Last year, theteam won the FIRSTRobotics Competi-tion Coopertition™Award from theNew York CityRegion. This year,the team is mentor-ing the new WilliamCullen Bryant HighSchool Team.

Pictured are students in English teacherMs. Kroeger’s class at the John AdamsAnnex building, getting a hands-on look atthe kind of attire and accessories worn andused during the Anglo-Saxon era, as a pre-view for their reading of “Beowulf.”

PHOTO BY BOB HARRIS

PHOTO COURTESY JOHN ADAMS HS

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NYIS-060622


Don’t know what networks are? Neither did many of the parents

and school leaders at the District30 Community Education Councilmeeting last Thursday who calledthe networks inaccessible and awaste of money.

Networks are like school dis-tricts but they are nongeographi-cal, which means a school fromthe Bronx can be in a network witha school from Queens. Principalspick which network they want tojoin based on a variety of factorsranging from if most of theschools in the group are a certaintype — elementary, middle or highschool — to if the principal sharessimilar methodologies with theother principals in the network.

Twelve years ago the Depart-ment of Education switched fromdistricts based in a region, withan office located in the neighborhood, to thenetwork model.

Parents were told that the move was inkeeping with Mayor Bloomberg and SchoolsChancellor Dennis Walcott’s “ChildrenFirst” plan, which, according to the DOE,allows networks to deal with operationalproblems and therefore gives principalsmore time to devote to instruction andsupervision. Children First Network employ-ees help principals improve their scores onevaluations and curricula and are account-able for a school’s performance ratings.

But with this supposed streamlining adirect link from the parents to the districthas been lost. The network representatives atThursday’s meeting said they could bereached directly, but many people disagree.

“The concern heard by parents, backwhen implemented, was the lack of trans-parency supporting our schools and it stillseems to hit a nerve with parents today,”Dmytro Fedkowskyj, Queens’ representativeon the Panel for Educational Policy, said inan email.

Although network employees visitschools weekly, Fedkowskyj said these peo-ple should attend the monthly CEC meetingas well as parent teacher associations toaddress transparency. Two network employ-ees attended Thursday’s CEC meeting, butby invitation.

Network representatives said they couldbe reached easily online, but CEC memberMichelle Noris said this posed a problem.She said many parents in District 30 don’town computers and if they do they don’thave time to wade through the complicatedDOE website, on which Noris said she

spent an hour on Thursday to find the con-tact information she was looking for.

“You are not communicating with the typ-ical New York City parent,” Noris said,adding that a bilingual letter introducing thenetwork’s role should be backpacked hometo all parents.

Conversely, Noris said, not only do theparents not know the networks but the net-works don’t know the parents. Years back anetwork ran a meeting at a predominatelynon-English- speaking school and the mem-bers didn’t bring a translator, Noris said. Shesaid this underscores the disconnect.

In 2011, PS 17, in Astoria, had a problemwith its principal, who has since beenremoved. The network didn’t get involveduntil the last minute, CEC member ValarieLaMour Shea said, “and then it was likepulling teeth.”

Parent Deborah Alexander said in anemail, “As a member of PS 150’s StudentLeadership Team, I was vaguely aware ofNetworks. I knew they were there for ‘sup-port,’ but more in a conflict-resolution con-text rather than as a proactive resource.”

There are about 50 networks, with about15 employees in each. These networks reportto about six clusters that report to topadministrators and the schools chancellor.

Network employees typically make thesalary of a school administrator, although afew make that of a teacher. When networkswere implemented the DOE said it wouldstreamline services and save money, accord-ing to Fedkowskyj.

“Sounds like a waste of money, because Inever see you,” LaMour Shea said. “I thinkthere are better ways to get services.” Q

What is the role ofschool networks?Some say nonregional supportsare shadowy, a waste of money

Community Education Council member Valarie LaMourShea voices her opposition to school networks.

PHOTO BY JOSEY BARTLETT

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by Denis DeckChronicle Contributor

Recently, a woman and her boyfriend went into an unassuming gold buying and cash loan shop on Queens Boulevard. She had a $35 offer on her ring from another area shop, but was looking to get a better deal. In what may be viewed as poor business acumen, she told her new prospective buyer what her previous offer was. Still, after examining her piece, he offered her $1,600. He did so, as he says, “...because that’s what it was worth.”

The plight of the worker who’s hard-up for cash in today’s economy is something that Arthur Elias and Edward Goldberg can relate to firsthand, having been laid off from their jobs in jewelry manufacturing. They understand that people get into situations where they just need a little cash fast to make the bills and Ice Jewelry Buying Service hopes to help out in the most honest way they can.

“For this, I like to think we’re doing the community a service,” Elias said. “We’re in the business of helping people who are in a tough spot. They can come to our store and know that we can educate them on what they have and we’ll give them what their items are worth. When that woman told me her previous offer, it made me wonder how many times this happens — how many people who really need that money get taken advantage of?”

Elias opened his Rego Park shop with Goldberg less than a year ago, and already they’re seeing a lot of repeat customers and referrals. This is a sign to them that they’re doing something right — the pawn business typically deals in one-time transactions but Elias is determined to break that mold, building a reputation on trust.

“Everyone around here is buying gold these days; you can go into the barber shop down the road and sell your jewelry. The problem with all these places is they treat everything like it’s a one-shot deal and we don’t do that,” Elias said.

In addition to buying gold, silver, diamonds, watches and coins, Ice Jewelry Buying also offers instant cash loans for jewelry and eBay selling services.

Their cash loans program is straightforward and simple. “It’s a perfect solution for someone who has a bill due and a check on the way,” Goldberg said. “But we make sure they have a game plan to buy their jewelry back before the end of the term. Sometimes these are people’s heirlooms we’re talking about and we respect that.”

For those who are less Internet-savvy or just don’t have the time, Ice Jewelry Buying offers a convenient eBay sales service. If what a customer has isn’t an item that Ice Jewelry Buying would purchase, like a handbag or antique furniture, they can help find a buyer on their eBay store. Elias consults with the customer to find a

target price and let the Internet auctioneers handle the rest.

For anyone who has ever dealt with the hassle of selling and shipping an item on eBay — all the forms involved in setting up a user and paypal

account, the 10-15 percent fee that Ice Jewelry Buying charges to do all the work is really a bargain deal.

“At the end of the day, I just want people to feel comfortable doing business with us. People have this conception of gold buying stores as these slimy places with slimy people, and they’re typically right. But we want to be different. I don’t think it’s cool to see someone buy a ring for $200 and put it in their counter for $800. We don’t do that.”

Ice Jewelry Buying Service is located at98-30 Queens Blvd. in Rego Park. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 11 am to 7:00 pm and Saturday 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday– private appoinments are available. Call for more information (718) 830-0030. Q

Ice Jewelry: where the owners can relate to their clients

Ice Jewelry Buying Service is located on Queens Boulevard in Rego Park. PHOTO BY DONNA DECAROLIS

- ADVERTORIAL -

STORE HOURSMON.-FRI. 11am - 7pm

SAT. 10am - 5pmSUN. by Appointment

ICEJ-060627

by Tess McRaeReporter

Members of the community and localelected officials gathered on Monday tocelebrate the inaugural year of the newMaspeth High School building.

“I feel a wonderful spirit in this build-ing,” Queens Borough President HelenMarshall said. “This school will teach manyminds how to work and how to plan for thefuture.”

City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley(D-Middle Village) hosted the event in theschool’s amphitheater, where dozens ofguests took in speeches and performances.

Many speakers praised Principal Khur-shid Abdul-Mutakabbir’s approach to edu-cation, which was described as having a“back to basics feel” by City CouncilmanLeroy Comrie (D-St. Albans).

“I believe we are on our way to excel-lence,” Abdul-Mutakabbir said. “The build-ing is a wonderful facility. It is everythingyou’d want in a school. We are f inallyhappy that the ribbon has been cut.”

In addition to Maspeth High School, thebuilding also holds the significantly smallerJohn F. Kennedy Junior School for specialeducation students.

Abdul-Mutakabbir referred to the juniorschool’s Principal Beth Rudolph as a trust-ed colleague and partner, without whomMaspeth High School would not be theschool it is today.

State Senator Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) said he considers theMaspeth High School building as a placethat will benefit both students and the com-munity as a whole.

“This school is a jewel of Maspeth butmore than that, it lays the groundwork forMaspeth’s future,” he said.

The school, which opened in 2011, origi-nally shared space with the Queens Metro-politan High School while the building wasbeing erected. The new building, located on74th Street., has only been in commissionfor five months.

Though still in its infancy, many speak-ers rejoiced in a new school for Maspeth,an area notorious for overcrowded schools.

“I have been through this process withmy own children,” Dmytro Fedkowskyj theQueens representative for the Panel forEducation Policy, said. “I know what it’slike to try to find a high school with noovercrowding, which, in Queens, is nearlyimpossible.”

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott wasalso in attendance, mingling with studentsand other attendees before making a briefstatement.

“This is a gorgeous morning,” he said, “abeautiful morning to celebrate this school.This represents the vision of a 21st-centuryschool where our children can receive a21st- century education.”

After the ribbon was cut and all of thespeeches had been given, the ceremonyconcluded with student performances,including a number from the string orches-tra, a recitation of Abraham Lincoln’s Get-tysburg Address, a Bollywood-fusion dancenumber and a performance of the famousbalcony scene from “Romeo and Juliet.”

Guests were then invited to take a tourof the school building with faculty andstaff. Q

New Maspeth HighSchool cuts ribbon MHS community, elected officialscelebrate a ‘jewel’ of a building

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott, in sunglasses, joins Queens Borough President Helen Marshall,center left, Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, center, Queens PEP representative DmytroFedkowskyj, next to Crowley, Principal Khurshid Abdul-Mutakabbir, behind her, and students for theMaspeth High School ribbon-cutting ceremony. PHOTO COURTESY NYC COUNCIL

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It was one hour before the Tony awards would be broadcast nationally and the neon light displays wouldn’t turn on.

The show’s team rushed Kenny Greenberg, founder of Krypton Neon in Long Island City, in to save the day. He looked at the wiring and as he made his prognosis the crew said, “Stop. It’s time for a sound check.”

A piano rolled in and a vase filled with flowers was set on top. Then Elton John walked in — in all his sparkle and velvet splendor.

“It was amazing,” Greenberg said. “But it’s a little funny tapping your feet waiting for Elton John to finish.”

The Krypton Neon team has worked with and contin-ues to add their one-of-a-kind touch to the sets of pro-ductions and projects such as “Men in Black,” “Mama

Mia,” “Young Frankenstein,” the Victoria Secret fashion show and restoration and conservation projects at galler-ies such as the Gagosian, in Manhattan.

“They liked the way I worked,” Greenberg said of the many projects. “It was a marriage made in heaven. Sometimes people just assume I’ll be working on the next Broadway project.”

On March 23 and 24 Greenberg will impart some of that wisdom, which has made him a neon guru in the show biz scene, to anyone who wants to take his class.

Greenberg grew up in a family of artists and chemists. After a decade of working as an educator and feeling like he needed to satisfy his creative side, he decided to devote himself to neon — in a way combining art and chemistry.

Continued on page by Josey Bartlett

Neon workshop divulges the tricks

of the trade

Kenny Greenberg, founder of Krypton Neon in Long Island City, has created neon artworks for productions such as Victoria Secret fashion

shows, “Men in Black” and “Mama Mia.” He’ll be giving a two-day course on the craft next month.

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AUDITIONSSTAR is now interviewing for a director as well asauditioning senior actors for short classicalscenes for upcoming performances for an estab-lished senior acting group located in Queens Village.Call (718) 776-0529 for an appointment.

THEATREMarathon Little Theatre Group presents “The Paja-ma Game” on Saturdays, March 2, 9 and 16 at 8:30p.m. and Sundays, March 3, 10 and 17 at 3 p.m.Cost is $18 for adults and $16 for seniors and chil-dren under 13 at 247-37 60 Ave., Douglaston. Call(718) 229-4644 for more information.

Maggie’s Little Theater performs “Godspell” on March9, 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. and March 10 and 17 at 2:30p.m. in St. Margaret’s Parish Hall, 79th Place betweenMetropolitan Avenue and Juniper Valley Road in Mid-dle Village. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniorsand $10 for children. Visit maggieslittletheater.org toreserve tickets or call (917) 579-5389.

Theatre By The Bay produces “The Wizard of Oz,”on Saturdays, March 2, 9 and 16 at 8:30 p.m. and onSundays, March 3, 10 and 17 at 3 p.m. at Bay Ter-race Jewish Center, 13-00 209 St., Bayside. Ticketscost $20 for adults and $18 for seniors, 62 and olderand children 12 and under. For more information orto make reservations visit theatrebythebayny.com orcall (718) 428-6363.

DANCEThalia Spanish Theatre, 41-17 Greenpoint Ave., Sun-nyside, performs “Afro Tango” through March 17 onFridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4p.m. Tickets are $35; students and seniors $32; Fri-days only $30. For information and tickets call (718)729-3880 or visit thaliatheatre.org.

FILMCentral Queens Y, 67-09 108th St, Forest Hills, willbegin its 5th annual NY ReelAbilites Film Festivalon Sunday, March 10 at 10 a.m. showing interna-tional short documentaries about people withautism, Down syndrome and Tourette syndrome.Suggested donation is $8. On Monday March, 11 at1 p.m. a special ReelAbilites event with singer AnitaHollander will be open to the public for $6. Ticketsare available for all events at cqy.org/tickets, (718)268-5011 ext. 151 or [email protected].

View the premiere of the short film “Product of myEnvironment” on Saturday, March 16 at 3 and 8 p.m.at Black Spectrum Theatre, 119-07 Merrick Blvd,Jamaica. Cost is $15. Call (718) 790-9000 for moreinformation.

The 2013 Queens World Film Festival hostsscreenings on: opening night, Tuesday, March 5 at7:30 p.m. at the Museum of Moving Image, 36-0135 Ave., Astoria, with an opening night after party;March 6-9 at the Jackson Heights Cinema, 40-31 82St.; The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23 St., Long IslandCity; and The Renaissance Charter School, 35-59 81

St., Flushing. A Closing Night Party will be held at LICBar, 45-58 Vernon Blvd. on Saturday, March 9 withEncore screenings of the winning films at the SecretTheatre on Sunday, March 10. A festival pass whichincludes a VIP ticket to opening night is $75, withoutopening night attendance is $50. Tickets for a blockof films are $10 for general admission and $6 forstudents and senior citizens over 65 years of age.

MUSICA new music composers’ forum concert will be heldat The Church-In-The-Gardens, 50 Ascan Ave., ForestHills, on Saturday, March 2 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 foradults, $15 for seniors, $10 for students and kids under12 are free with an adult. Contact Barbara Podgurski at(718) 894-2178 or [email protected] for moreinformation.

The Kupferberg Center for the Arts presents theAcademy of St. Martin in the Fields with AlisaWeilerstein, cello, and Inon Barnatan, piano, onSunday, March 10, 3 p.m., at the Colden Auditori-um at Queens College off Exit 23 on the LongIsland Expressway. Tickets are $32-$54. Call (718)793-8080 or visit kupferbergcenter.org for moreinformation.

Forest Hills Symphony Orchestra presents its 49thseason concert on Sunday, March 3 at Forest HillsJewish Center, 106-06 Queens Blvd. at 2 p.m. Ticketsare $5 for adults and $3 for seniors and students.Call (718) 374-1627 for more information.

Queens College Chamber Music Live concert seriesopens with Claudio Monteverdi’s “L’Incoronazione diPoppea” Friday-Saturday, March 1-2 at 7:30 p.m. andSunday, March 3 at 2:30 p.m. in the QC Opera Studio,65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing. Additionally the Cali-dore String Quartet will perform on Friday, March 8 at10 a.m. and the Kashkashian-Artymiw Duo will per-form on Friday, March 15 at 10 a.m. Call the AaronCopland School of Music at (718) 997-3800 or [email protected] for purchasing information.

FLEA MARKETSSt. Josaphat’s R.C. Church of Bayside holds a fleamarket plus ethnic Polish bake sale on Sunday, March10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Parish Hall, 35thAvenue and 210th Street. Plenty of free parking. CallSteve at (718) 224-3052 for more information.

Our Lady of Hope, 61-21 71 St., Middle Village,hosts a spring flea market and craft fair on Saturday,March 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

St. Nicholas of Tolentine, at Parsons Boulevard andUnion Turnpike in Jamaica, hosts an indoor flea mar-ket on Sunday, March 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

LECTURESAttend a lecture about caregiving for an agingparent and the unique challenges and opportuni-ties it presents on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. atCentral Queens Y, 67-09 108 St., Forest Hills. Nocharge. RSVP is requested. Call Pamela Leff at(718) 268-5011 ext. 621 or visit cqy.org/parent formore information.

MEETINGSVFW Post 4787, 19-12 149 St., Whitestone, holdsits next monthly meeting on Monday, March 11 at8 p.m.

CLASSESNew York State Society for Clinical Social Workmembers can come to find out more about thegroup and discuss social work issues at SpeedNetworking. Bring your business card on Sunday,March 3 at 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Holliswood Hospital,87-37 Palermo Street. Free to members, the fee forstudents is $5 and nonmembers $10. Free parking.For more information contact [email protected] visit the website at nysscsw.org.

The Central Queens YM & YWHA 67-09 108 St., For-est Hills, announces the return of PERC, a club forretirees. Come meet and speak with others aboutwhat concerns you Tuesday mornings from 10-11:30a.m. Free for members of the CQY. Nonmembersfree for first session, then $2 per session. Call theAdult and Senior Department at (718) 268-5011 ext.160 or 622 for more information.

Nuts and Bolts of Homeownership, a class onmortgage affordability analysis: How much “house”can you really afford? and dealing with your credit,will be held on Saturday, March 2 from 11 a.m. to 4p.m. at 37-43 77 St., 2nd floor, Jackson Heights.

A class about how to unlock the secret of theRubik’s Cube will be held on Wednesday, March 6at 4 p.m. at Queens Village Library, 94-11 217 St.Pre-registration is required. Call (718) 776-6800.

The JCC-Chabad of Long Island City/Astoria, 10-31Jackson Blvd., hosts Torah Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m.; TaamShabbat, Mommy and me, on Thursdays from 3:30 to4:30 p.m.; Carlbach Shabbat service and LeChaim onFridays at 6 p.m.; Shabbat morning service and kid-dush on Saturdays at 9:30 a.m..Call or visit (718) 609-0066 or jewishlic.com for more information.

SPECIAL EVENTSHavurat Yisrael of Forest Hills will participate in thenationwide program Shabbat Across America onFriday night, March 1. The program will include aspeaker, David Alkalay, who is a survivor of the Holo-caust. The synagogue is located at 68-60 Austin St.,Forest Hills. For more information call (718) 261-5500 or email [email protected] by Monday,Feb. 25. Cost for dinner is $10 for newcomers.

Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing, isrecruiting local gardeners to cultivate their own plots.All interested applicants are invited to an open houseon Saturday, March 2 from 10 a.m. to noon. For moreinformation email [email protected].

All Saints Episcopal Church at 43-12 46 St., Sunny-side, is observing the National Week of Prayer forthe Healing of AIDS on Sunday, March 3 at 10 a.m.,English service, and noon, Spanish service; Wednes-day, March 6 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 10 forbilingual services. Call (917) 254-7970 for moreinformation.

B Sharp LI Branch presents the 2013 NationalScholarship local competition in organ on Satur-day, March 9 at 2 p.m. at Hollis Presbyterian Church,100-50 196 St., Hollis. Call (718) 723-4626 for moreinformation.

The Glendale Kiwanis Club's 27th Annual pancakebreakfast will be held on Sunday, March 3 from 7:30a.m. to noon at St. Pancras School’s Pfeiffer Hall at68th Street and Myrtle Avenue. Tickets are $5 eachand may be purchased at: Coldwell Banker KueberRealty, 67-13 Myrtle Ave., Schwille Funeral Home, 66-32 Myrtle Ave. or McKenna Florist, 67-11 Central Ave.

Havurat Yisrael Sisterhood holds its wine sale andtasting on Saturday, March 2 at 8 p.m at 68-60Austin St., Forest Hills. Cost is $7.

qbboorroo

To submit a theater, music, art or entertainment item to What’s Happening, email [email protected]

Jay Gurka as the Tin Man, Jenn Sanchez as the Scarecrow, Isabel Robin as Dorothy and Joseph Rand as The CowardlyLion all star in “The Wizard of Oz,” presented by Theatre By The Bay on Saturdays and Sundays in March. COURTESY PHOTO

W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G

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by Alessandra Malito Chronicle Contributor

The Panorama of the City of New Yorkgives visitors to the Queens Museum ofArt an opportunity to see the famoussites of the city all in one day, and inminiature. And for the trivia and geogra-phy masters, it tests their knowledge ofNew York history.

On Friday, March1, visitors can par-ticipate in the 6thannual PanoramaChallenge, hostedby Levy’s UniqueNew York!, TheQueens Museum ofArt and The CityReliquary. They willbe asked questions with audio and visualhelp from the sprawling NYC replica.

“I spend most of my days talking aboutNew York and thinking about New Yorkand a lot of what tour guides do is saythings over and over again,” JonathonTurer, a tour guide with Levy’s and quiz-master of the Panorama Challenge, said.“I like to think about things differently

and maybe talk about them differently.” There will be 36 two-tiered questions,

with one easy question and one hardquestion in each set. And, Turer said,they all have a twist to them.

The two-tiered questions, named “NewYork Novices” and “Panorama Pros,” arenew this year, and will give teams two

chances to win. Turersaid they also givethose who haveattended the Panora-ma Challenge in thepast a fresh aspect ofthe event.

“It just keeps get-ting bigger and big-ger,” Turer said,

adding that last year’sevent had about 300 people. “We havepeople who have been coming back andreformulating teams.”

Turer himself has been coming back foryears. He started out just helping with thelaser pointers when Levy’s asked for hishelp, then writing some questions the nextyear and finally becoming quizmaster.

“It’s sort of addicting,” he said.But, what makes this event even more

unique, is the venue itself — the Panorama,a unique scale model of the entire city.

boroPanorama Challenge tests NYC knowledge

More than 300 people participated in the Panorama Challenge last year at the QueensMuseum of Art, where they were asked questions about NYC’s history and geography.

PHOTO COURTESY LEVY’S UNIQUE NEW YORK!


‘Panorama Challenge’When: March 1, 6 to 9 p.m. Where: Queens Museum of Art

Flushing Meadow Corona Park,near the Unisphere

Tickets: $10,(718) 592-9700 queensmuseum.org

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by Carlotta MohamedChronicle Contributor

The third annual Queens WorldFilm Festival will launch March 5at the Museum of the MovingImage in Astoria, with six shortfilms from countries such as Italy,Belgium and Romania, as well asones from Queens and Brooklyn.Over five days,more than 100independentmovies will beshown.

“It is aworld-class filmfestival bring-ing togetherf i l m m a k e r sfrom aroundthe world andevery corner of Queens,” saidKatha Cato, who, along with herhusband, Don, is directing theevent. “We have 19 filmmakersfrom Queens, six from Manhattanand nine from Brooklyn.”

Featured films will be presented

in thematic blocks including“LGBT Short Stack,” and “Off theBeaten Path,” to name just two.

Astoria fi lmmaker MichaelChmiel, who will show his 20-minute film “Charred” at the Jack-son Heights Cinema in the“O...M...G!” category, said it’snice to bring a film to his home-

town. The shortfi lm is a darkpsycholog ica ldrama about awoman whouses pain as anoutlet for heremotions andp l e a s u r e s ,Chmiel said.

For this first-time filmmaker

and director, it took a couplemonths of preparation and fourdays of intense shooting to makehis movie.

“It was definitely a fascinatingexperience seeing it from thebeginning until the end, that was

daunting and wonderful,” Chmielsaid last Saturday, during a mixerheld at the Jackson Heights apart-ment of another festival filmmak-er, Richard Uhlig. “To see yourbaby come to life is the best part.”

Two other aspiring Queensfilmmakers, Anne Hu and HelenStevens, whose five-minute narra-tive “Emma” will be shown in the“Bitter Sweet” category, saidthey’re proud of their creation.

In the film, Emma spends a lastnight with her boyfriend and is sadthat he has to go away; both havedeep feelings and respect for eachother but Emma has to cope withhow she cannot go with him.

“It’s not a typical ‘I hate you’breakup movie; it’s more basic andsimple,” said Hu, who produced anddirected. “In their lives it was not theright time or place to be together.

boroWatch out, Cannes — here comes Queens!

A still from the short film “Dimension Six,” directed by Keith Cherninof Forest Hills, which will be screened during the Queens World FilmFestival. At left are Helen Stevens and Anne Hu, also both of Queens,whose short film “Emma” will be shown.

PHOTOS BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED, LEFT, AND COURTESY QWFF


Queens World Film FestivalWhen: March 5-10,

varying timesWhere: Multiple locationsTickets: $10; $6 for students

and seniorsQueensWorldFilmFestival.com


It’s a two-day, eight-person work-shop. Greenberg starts with a basic lec-ture on glass blowing and steps his stu-dents through some of the cutting,welding and bending basics. Then thestudents take the reins — with Green-berg always lending a supportive andhelpful hand and eye.

Before the classbegins proteges sub-mit sketches of whatthey want to create.Some leap into fairlyintricate stuff such as acoffee cup with steamor a word, which hasmore intricate bendsthan the non-neon prowould think.

But learning what’s difficult and what’smanageable is a reason on its own to takethe course, Greenberg said. Even if stu-dents don’t plan to take their neon skillsto a professional level, it’s a valuable skillfor a designer who may eventually workwith a neon artist.

“I think that’s a great thing to do,”Greenberg said. “Often I spend timetraining people how to design sets forneon installation.”

Other sketches are simple butterfliesor abstract experiments. Often studentschange their mind for what do withtheir projects the night between the twoclasses, Greenberg said.

Some people want to work on tech-niques and creating a perfect product;others want to plunge in and keepworking on his or her little masterpiece.

He compares it tolearning to play thepiano.

“You can playscales all day or justbang away at it,” hesaid. “They exploreand discover whatworks for them.”

Lastly, in the class,Greenberg makes the

glass designs glow. Most neon shops have only two

gases and about 12 colors, Greenbergsaid, but because of Krypton’s show bizclientele it has at least a hundred differ-ent shades. Some colors are made bytinting the glass and others by mixingchemicals.

Most shops use just neon and argon,“but because we are crazy we have heli-um, krypton [of course] and xenontoo.” Q

The twists and turns of neon art

Artist Tom Unger works on a commissioned piece of neon art at Krypton Neon in LongIsland City. PHOTO BY JOSEY BARTLETT

continued from page 39

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SPECIAL EVENTSMaspeth Town Hall Community Center holds an IrishCelebration on Sunday, March 10 at 3-7 p.m. at St.Adalbert’s Parish Hall, 84th Street off Grand Avenuein Elmhurst. Tickets are $30 for adults, children ages6-12 $12 and children under 6 are $7. To reserve call(718) 335-6049.

Human Growth Foundation, a national nonprofit orga-nization whose mission is to help children and adultswith disorders of growth and growth hormone, willhost its first annual 4.8K Step Up and Walk on Sun-day, April 21 from 7 a.m. to noon at Flushing Mead-ows Corona Park, 113-01 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing. Indi-vidual and team registration is now open online athgfound.org/stepupandwalk_event_registration.html

St. Pancras School, 68-20 Myrtle Ave., Glendale,will host its annual St. Patrick’s Day fundraisingdance on Saturday, March 9 from 7-11 p.m. Pro-ceeds will go to smartboards for the school. TheBoston Burglars will play Irish hits and a buffet willbe served. Tickets are $50. Call (718) 821-6721 or(347) 853-9348.

The Samuel Field Y has two weekday programs forpreschool children ages 3-5 with developmentaldisabilities and their families. On Mondays from 3to 4:30 p.m. there is Monday Magic: Learn and Playat the Bay Terrace Center, 212-00 23 Ave., Bayside.On Wednesdays from 3-4:30 there is Gym and Cre-ative Exploration at the Little Neck Site, 58-20 LittleNeck Pkwy. Contact Amanda at (718) 225-6750 ext.262 or email [email protected] for more information.

SENIOR ACTIVITIESThe Innovative SNAP of Eastern Queens SeniorCenter, 80-45 Winchester Blvd., Queens Village,offers a wide array of programs and services includ-ing: healthy lunches, current events, diabetes self-management classes, yoga and the ReminiscenceGroups. Receive information on benefits and entitle-ments or share your life story in a safe, private set-ting. For more information on classes and trans-portation call Kathleen at (718) 454-2100 or visitsnapqueens.org.’

A leisure group meets every Wednesday at 11 a.m.at the Hillcrest Jewish Center, Prince Room, 183-02Union Turnpike, Flushing. Cost is $6 for lunch. Theprogram includes yoga instruction, discussiongroups, card games, bingo, birthday celebrations,guest speakers and holiday celebrations. For info.,call Dr. Roz Gold at (718) 229-7511.

The Ridgewood Older Adult Center, 59-14 70 Ave.,welcomes seniors age 60 and older, Monday-Fridayfrom 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A food pantry is availableTuesdays-Thursdays from 1-3 p.m. Other activitiesinclude daily hot lunch, mini-trips, daily exerciseclasses, monthly birthday parties and theme parties.The MetroCard van is at the Center on the fourthThursday of every month. Movies are held everyMonday or Tuesday at 1:15 p.m. Art classes are heldevery Monday at 12:30 p.m. Call Karen at (718) 456-2000 for more information.

The Brooks Senior Center, 143-22 109 Ave.,Jamaica, welcomes all seniors age 60+. Come andenjoy a healthy lunch from noon to 1 p.m., activitiessuch as Wii sports, bowling, bingo, laptop classes,exercise, ceramics, cards and board games, bloodpressure checks, trips, monthly nutrition presenta-

tions and monthly birthday celebrations and themeparties. Suggested contribution is $1.25. For moreinformation call (718) 291-3935.

The Selfhelp Clearview Senior Center, 208-11 26Ave., Bayside, hosts: Qi Gong, Mondays at 10:45a.m.; Wii time, Mondays and Thursdays at 12:45p.m.; Music with Dee, Mondays at 1 p.m.; beginnersdrawing, Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m.; health education,Tuesdays at 10 a.m.; aerobics, Tuesdays and Thurs-days at 11 a.m.; yoga, Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m.;mind, body and soul, Wednesdays at 11 a.m.; bingo,Wednesdays at 12:45 p.m.; jewelry making, Wednes-days at 1 p.m.; stay well exercises, Thursdays at 9:30a.m.; reminiscing group, Thursdays at 10:45 a.m.;Scrabble, Thursdays at 12:45 p.m.; dance fitness, Fri-days at 10:45 a.m. and AARP chorus, Fridays at 1p.m.., shopping trips, computer classes, lunches andmore. Call (718) 224-7888 for further information.

Selfhelp Innovative Senior Center (BenjaminRosenthal-Prince Street Senior Center), 45-25 Kisse-na Blvd., Flushing, has a special Saturday program,open every other Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.for all seniors, especially South Asians, offering basiccomputer classes, basic English, health education,Indian movies, Indian yoga, games, Kinect bowling,tai chi, Yuan Ji dancing, breathing yoga, Ping-Pong,karaoke, field trips, case assistance and have a vege-tarian Indian-style lunch. Call (718) 886-5777 for fur-ther information.

SUPPORT GROUPSThe Lupus Alliance of Long Island and Queensmeets once a month on Tuesdays from 7:30 to 9p.m. in Flushing. To attend and for more informa-tion, Alliance members can register by calling PaulaGoldstein at (516) 802-3142. Anyone with Lupusand family members are invited to attend EducationDays on Saturdays, March 23 and June 1 from 9:30a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration is required in advance. Afee of $10 per person for members and $15 for non-members includes a light breakfast, handouts andlunch. Call (516)826-2058 for more information.

Nar-Anon is a self-help support group for anyoneaffected by a loved one’s use/abuse of drugs. Thegroup meets every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in thebasement lounge at The-Church-In-The-Gardens,50 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills. For information, call1(800) 984-0066, or go to nar-anon.org.

Free caregiver support groups at Queens Com-munity House, Kew Gardens Community Center,80-02 Kew Gardens Road. Call (718) 226-5960Ext. 226 for details.

Drug problem? Call Narcotics Anonymous Helplineat (718) 962-6244 or visit westernqueensna.com.Meetings are held seven days a week.

bboro

Items for the Community Calendar mustbe sent two weeks before the date of theevent. Listings should be typed, from a non-profit organization, either free or moderatelypriced, and be open to the public. Keep theinformation to one paragraph. Because of thelarge number of requests for the free calendarlistings, we cannot include every event sub-mitted. Send to: Queens Chronicle, Communi-ty Calendar, P.O. Box 74-7769, Rego Park, NY11374, fax to (718) 205-0150.

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Answers below

“It’s one of the most impressive andawe-inspiring things in any museum inthe city and the connection with the cityitself is really incredible,” Matt Apter, MCof the Panorama Challenge, said. “Itsscale is pretty unbelievable. I’ve takenpeople inside the Queens Museum just toshow them the Panorama, and justwatching their expressions when they seethat is phenomenal.”

Audio clues and laser pointers willhighlight various landmarks, architectur-al structures, neighborhoods and moreon the Panorama, and teams wil l beresponsible for identifying them.

An essay questions portion and songclues will also be determining factors forthe winning team.

Judges Lee Gelber, dean of NYC TourGuides; Andy Sydor, NYC Know-It-All;and Kevin Walsh, webmaster and authorof “Forgotten New York: Views of a LostMetropolis,” will be available for theclose-call encounters.

Admission will go to support The CityRel iquary museum in Wil l iamsburg,Brooklyn.

Food will also be available for pur-chase, and The Brooklyn Brewery will be

providing beers while the Kings CountyDistillery will be providing samples ofwhisky, of course, for over-21-ers only. Afree shuttle will be traveling between theQueens Museum of Art and the 7 train’sMets-Willets Point stop.

“Everybody who works for Levy’s justloves New York history,” Turer said.“They breathe it and sweat it and it’s likean everyday thing. We just love sharingthat with other people. We think it’s funand it turns out other people think it’sfun, too.” Q

Crossword Answers

Panorama Challengecontinued from page 00

It’s more so sweet, tender and pretty.”Stevens, who also acts in the film,

came up with the story idea lastFebruary and both women workedon it until August.

“It took us two, three monthswriting the script and shooting it onMemorial Day in my Woodsideapartment,” said Stevens. “Wespent two months editing, and sinceit was a small group of us, we want-ed to see if it would work — andhere we are at our first film festival!”

Between March 5 and 10, 104 filmssuch as these, chosen by the Catos, will bescreened at five locations in Astoria, LongIsland City, Jackson Heights and Flushing.

The couple spent months reviewing andchoosing the films.

“It was pretty challenging selectingfrom over 200 f i lms s ince August,”Katha Cato said. “Every film had a ratingsheet and there was about 70 to 80hours of screening. It was definitelytougher this year.”

This year’s best films will be eligible forencore screenings as part of the extremelypopular Long Island City Arts Open. Also,

LGBT-oriented films will be featured in anencore screening during the Queens Pridefree film series.

“The first two years of the festival weregreat. It almost doubled in size the secondyear. It was definitely a positive experiencefor everyone,” Cato said.

According to Katha Cato, the film festi-val shines a light on Queens that reflectsthe diversity of a borough with greathotels and delicious restaurants just likeBrooklyn and Manhattan.

It is a destination for filmmakers, sheadded, “Because if you wish to screen inTribeca, where do you land? In Queens!” Q

Film festivalcontinued from page 00

Don and Katha Cato organized the QueensWorld Film Festival. PHOTO BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED

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$30 EVENING HOURS AVAILABLE!

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HOME IMPROVEMENTHANDYMAN SERVICESCarpentry, Sheetrock, Framing, Windows,

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W&U Construction Inc.• Kitchens• Bathrooms• Carpentry• Painting

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Cell: 646-262-0153 12

J.P. MUSSO ROOFING & SIDING Commercial and Residential

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Chronicle ServicesYour Connection

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HIS# 1393697HIC#1393699

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We Will Remove All Your Unwanted FurnitureJunk Removal • From One Piece To A Truck Load

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Notice of Formation of Dos Estrellas LLC. Arts of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/1/13. Office location: Queens. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to:c/o Waleed Zaiter, 22-06 38th St., #1A, Astoria, NY 11105. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Legal Notices

LEGAL NOTICE AMBROSINO EQUITIES LLC

Notice of formation of a domestic Limited Liability Company (“LLC”). Articles of Organization filed with the Sec. of State of NY (“SSNY”) on 2/22/13. Office location: Queens Co. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY may mail a copy of any process to the LLC, 57-52 49th Place, Maspeth, New York 11378. The LLC does not have a specific date of dissolution. Purpose: all purposes permitted by the LLC.

Notice of Formation of 95-05 41ST AVENUE LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/11/13. Office loc: Queens. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 147-27 21st Ave., Whitestone, NY 11357. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Legal Notices

©2009 M1P • QCHR-041377

ARE NOW

ONLINE! View the ads just as they look in the newspaper.

GO TO QUEENSCHRONICLE.COMAND CLICK ON

THIS WEEK’S CLASSIFIEDS OR SERVICESwww.queenschronicle.com

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718-205-8000

Queens’ Largest Weekly Community Newspaper Group

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CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS ANDAND

SERVICE DIRECTORYSERVICE DIRECTORY

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To Advertise Call 718-205-8000

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MAIL USCLASSIFIED ADVERTISINGQueens Chronicle62-33 Woodhaven BoulevardRego Park, NY 11374

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ChronicleCLASSIFIEDS

LOOKING TO BUYEstates, gold, costume jewelry,old & mod furn, records, silver,coins, art, toys, oriental items. CallGeorge, 718-386-1104

PLEASE CALL LORI, 718-324-4330 . I PAY THE BEST, MOSTHONEST PRICES FOR ESTATES,FURNITURE, CHANDELIERS,LAMPS, COSTUME JEWELRY,WATCHES (WORKING OR NOTWORKING), FURS, COINS, POCK-ETBOOKS, CHINA, VASES,GLASSWARE, STERLING SILVER-WARE, FIGURINES, CANDLE-STICKS, PAINTINGS, PRINTS,RUGS, PIANOS, GUITARS, VIO-LINS, FLUTES, TAG SALES,CLEANOUTS, CARS

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Having a garage sale? Let every-one know about it by advertisingin the Queens Classifieds. Call718-205-8000 and place the ad!

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REAL ESTATE CLOSINGS$895.00. Expd Attorney. FreeBuy/Sell Guide. ESTATES/CRIMI-NAL MATTERS Richard H. Lovell,P.C., 10748 Cross Bay, OzonePark, NY 11417 718 [email protected]

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Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: LAW & JOHN, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/17/2012. Office location is Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to Chang Zhong Zhang, 9914 41st Ave., Corona, NY 11368. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Qualification of SWISSPORT LOUNGE, LLC. Authority filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/01/13. Office location: Queens County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 02/13/12. Princ. office of LLC: JFK International Airport, Terminal 5 (Unit 3NC), Jamaica, NY 11430. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 2711 Centerville Rd., Ste. 400, Wilmington, DE 19808. Arts. of Org. filed with DE Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: SPEAKYOURMINDNY, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/24/13. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, 158-23 Riverside Drive, Beechhurst, New York 11357. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of S. Falco Enterprises, LLC. Arts. of Org. fi led Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/18/13. Off. loc.: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: P.O. Box 660100, Fresh Meadows, NY 11366. Purpose: any lawful activity.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: CROSS ISLAND APARTMENTS, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/15/13. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, 136-16 32nd Avenue, Flushing, New York 11354. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of 140-15 Flushing LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the Sect’y of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/27/2012. Office location, County of Queens. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 136-52 72nd Avenue, Flushing, NY 11367. Purpose: any lawful act

Notice of Formation of 230 10th STREET BROOKLYN LLC, a domestic LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/26/12. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: The LLC, 167-41 147TH Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11434. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

GOLDEN AUTUMN INVESTORS LLC, a domestic LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 1/9/13. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, P.O. Box 541325, Flushing, NY 11354. General Purposes.

MG CONSTRUCTION AND MECHANICAL LLC, a domestic LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 1/14/13. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Marek Grabowski, 102-10 66th Rd., Apt. 27A, Forest Hills, NY 11375. General Purposes.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: 14-42 30TH DRIVE LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 12/05/12. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, c/o Hector Alexiades, Esq., 31-10 37th Avenue, Suite 301, Long Island City, New York 11101. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Vacation Site

Legal Service

Adoption

NOTICE Would Andra Lewis and

Carol Thompson of

146-34 22nd St., Springfield Gardens, NY 11413 Contact

Thwaites Firm at

718-618-5900 or email us at

[email protected] as soon as possible.

Miscellaneous

ANNOUNCEMENTRabbi Mayer Perelmuter of The Reform Temple of Forest Hills is changing his status from Rabbi to Rabbi Emeritus after forty-two years of active congregational service. We are compiling a commemorative journal in his honor.We invite anyone who would like to participate to send memories or best wishes to visit www.rtfh.org/calendar/events/ or call The Reform Temple of Forest Hills at718 261-2900.

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LEGAL NOTICES

Advertise in TheQueens Chronicle’sClassified Section And

Get Results…FastCall 718-205-8000

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Notice of Formation of Teddy Bear Breads LLC. Arts. of Org. fi led Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 1/3/13. Off. loc.: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 249-31 64th Ave., Little Neck, NY 11362. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of limited liability company. Name: Law Office of Leonidas Fampritsis, PLLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 02/05/2013. Office location is Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 35-01 30th Ave., Suite 404, NY 11103. The general purpose: For any lawful purpose.

J V Vlahos Transport LLC Arts of Org filed with NY Sec of State (SSNY) on 1/10/13. Office: Queens County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 22-29 48th St., Astoria, NY 11105. General Purposes

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: PARSONS TERRACE LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 01/14/13. Office location: Queens County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to the LLC, c/o Ciampa Organization, 136-26 37th Avenue, Flushing, New York 11354. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

File No.: 2011-4713/AAMENDED CITATION

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKBY THE GRACE OF GOD, FREE AND INDEPENDENTTO: Leon Knutti, Leticia Knutti, Arturo Knutti, Pedro Juan Knutti,

Nils Holder Schutzenberger, Alexander Rudigier, Maximiliano Knutti, Ingrid Knutti,Ivonne Knutti, Alejandro Knutti, DCM Services, American Infosource,Weltman, Weinberg, & Reis, NYC Human Resources Administration,

Attorney General of the State of New York The unknown distributees, legatees, devisees, heirs at law and assignees of ELIZABETH KNUTTI A/K/A ELISABETH KNUTTI , deceased, and unknown “male” Knutti, or their estates, if any there be, whose names, places of residence and post offi ce addresses are unknown to the petitioner and cannot with due diligence be ascertained.Being the persons interested as creditors, legatees, distributees or otherwise in the Estate of ELIZABETH KNUTTI A/K/A ELISABETH KNUTTI, deceased, who at the time of death was a resident of 150-24 HILLSIDE AVENUE JAMAICA, NEW YORK, in the County of Queens, State of New York.

SEND GREETING:Upon the petition of LOIS M. ROSENBLATT, Public Administrator of Queens County, who maintains her offi ce at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, Queens County, New York 11435, as Administrator of the Estate of ELIZABETH KNUTTI A/K/A ELISABETH KNUTTI, deceased, you and each of you are hereby cited to show cause before the Surrogate at the Surrogate’s Court of the County of Queens, to be held at the Queens General Courthouse, 6th Floor, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, City and State of New York, on the 28th day of March 2013, at 9:30 o’clock in the forenoon, why the Account of Proceedings of the Public Administrator of Queens County, as Administrator of the Estate of said deceased, a copy of which is attached, should not be judicially settled, and why the Surrogate should not fi x and allow a reasonable amount of compensation to GERARD J. SWEENEY, ESQ., for legal services rendered to petitioner herein in the amount of $17,573.35 and that the Court fi x the fair and reasonable additional fee for any services to be rendered by GERARD J. SWEENEY, ESQ., hereafter in connection with proceedings on kinship, claims etc., prior to entry of a fi nal Decree on this accounting in the amount of 6% of assets or income collected after the date of the within accounting; and why the Surrogate should not fi x and allow an amount equal to one percent on said Schedules of the total assets on Schedules A, A1, and A2 plus any additional monies received subsequent to the date of this account, as the fair and reasonable amount payable to the Offi ce of the Public Administrator for the expenses of said offi ce pursuant to S.C.P.A. §1106(4); and why the claim to New York City Human Resources Administration in the amount of $127,543.35 should not be paid; and why the claim to DCM Services in the amount of $1,040.08 should not be rejected; and why the claim to American Infosource in the amount of $8,534.89 should not be rejected; and why the claim to Weltman, Weinberg, & Reis Co in the amount of $1,333.44 should not be rejected; and why each of you claiming to be a distributee of the decedent should not establish proof of your kinship; and why the balance of said funds should not be paid to said alleged distributees upon proof of kinship, or deposited with the Commissioner of Finance of the City of New York should said alleged distributees default herein, or fail to establish proof of kinship,

Dated, Attested and Sealed 8th day of February, 2013HON. PETER J. KELLY Surrogate, Queens County

Margaret M. Gribbon Clerk of the Surrogate’s CourtGERARD J. SWEENEY, ESQ.

(718) 459-900095-25 Queens Boulevard, 11th Floor, Rego Park, New York 11374

This citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not obliged to appear in person. If you fail to appear it will be assumed that you do not object to the relief requested unless you fi le formal legal, verifi ed objections. You have a right to have an attorney-at-law appear for you.

AUCTION CHEMUNG COUNTYREAL PROPERTY TAX FORECLO-SURES- 150+ Properties March27 @11AM. Holiday Inn, Elmira,NY. 800-243-0061 HAR, Inc. &AAR, Inc. Free brochure:www.NYSAUCTIONS.com

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Howard Beach/Rockwood Park, 1BR walk-in, G&E incl, $1,050/mo.Broker, 347-846-7809

Middle Village, quaint studio apt,G&E incl. $950/mo, separate ent.No pets/smoking, 646-361-0163

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Old Howard Beach, 2nd fl, 3 BRs,credit check, $1,600/mo. CallBroker, 347-846-7809

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Howard Beach, 2 BR Garden Co-op, 2 fl, pet ok, washer allowed,asking only $125K. Howard BeachRealty, 718-641-6800

Howard Beach/Rockwood Park,Hi-Ranch, 46x100 lot, 3/4 BRs, 1stfl needs sheetrock, gar, new boiler& HW. Asking $569K. HowardBeach Realty, 718-641-6800

Classified Ad Deadline is 12 Noonon Tuesday for Thursday’s paper.

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HUI FAMILY COMPANY, LLC, a domestic LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/5/12. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, Attn: Mr. Hor Ken Hui, 80-84 Kent St., Jamaica Estates, NY 11432. General Purposes.

JONG SHIOU LLC, a domestic LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 12/4/12. Office location: Queens County. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 43-62 Smart St., Flushing, NY 11355-2153. General Purposes.

Legal Notices

Real Estate Misc.

Real Estate Misc.

Out Of State R.E.

Vacation R.E./Rental

Houses For Sale

QUEENS VILLAGEHILLSIDE AVENUE &

FRANCIS LEWIS BLVDAttached Brick, M/D,

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Auctions

EQUAL HOUSING. Federal, NewYork State and local laws pro-hibit discrimination because ofrace, color, sex, religion, age,national origin, marital status,familial status or disability inconnection with the sale orrental of residential real estate.Queens Chronicle does notknowingly accept advertising inviolation of these laws. Whenyou suspect housing discrimi-nation call the Open HousingCenter (the Fair Housing Agencyfor the five boroughs of NewYork) at 212-941-6101, or theNew York City Commission ofHuman Rights Hotline at 212-306-7500.The Queens Chronicle reservesthe right to alter wording in adsto conform with Federal FairHousing regulations.

Real Estate


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by Michael GannonEditor

A New York City Buildings Departmentprogram tasked with finding illegally convert-ed apartments in Queens has done little toimprove its job performance since 2009,based on the results of an audit released lastweek.

The report, issued by the office of CityComptroller John Liu, states that the DOB’sQueens Quality of Life Unit is losingground on enforcement and followup visitson complaints when its inspectors cannotgain access to a building. The processrequires either an owner’s permission or awarrant.

Liu’s off ice found that inspectorsresponding to complaints did not gain accessto the buildings in nearly 80 percent of thecases, based on statistics from fiscal year2011, up from 39 percent in FY 2008

Total f ield inspection attempts wereunsuccessful 72 percent of the time, in 2011,an increase from 67 percent in 2008

“Not trying to pile on, but the BuildingsDepartment is just dysfunctional and inca-pable of improving itself,” Liu said in acomment on the report.

“It’s inability to perform basic tasks likethese bode poorly not just for the depart-ment, but for residents and neighborhoodstoo,” Liu said.

The primary issue is when building ownersor tenants create extra apartments withinexisting buildings which have not beenapproved by city officials and often do notmeet the city’s building, fire and safety codes.

“We’ve seen two-family houses turnedinto four-families, and on some streets inMiddle Village we can have 75 percent ille-gal occupancy,” said Bob Holden, presidentof the Juniper Park Civic Association.

“That places a strain on city services,leads to overcrowded schools, and in thecase of absentee landlords they sometimesdon’t take care of the buildings,” he said.

The consequences can sometimes go wellbeyond quality-of-life inconveniences.

In January 2005, six FDNY firefightersbecame trapped in a maze of illegal walls,apartments and divisions in a Bronx build-ing. Unable to escape the blaze they wereforced to jump from a fourth-story window.

Firef ighter John Bellew and Lt. CurtisMeyran were killed and the others badlyinjured in what came to be known in cityannals as The Black Sunday Fire.

The building’s landlord was originallyconvicted of criminally negligent homicide,but had the conviction thrown out on appeal.

Liu’s auditors have recommended that theDepartment of Buildings seek more assis-tance from its own legal department, thecity’s Law Department and the City Council

to secure legal authority to impose fines onowners who deny inspectors access.

They also said the department must bemore active in obtaining access warrantsafter a property has collected numerousfailed inspection attempts.

A statement issued on Monday by GloriaChin, a spokeswoman for the Department ofBuildings, said many of the recommenda-tions made in the Liu report have beenincorporated already.

“Illegal conversions pose a serious threatfor New Yorkers, and the Department isdoing more than ever to combat the dangerof illegal conversions,” the statement said.

“[T]he department has also launchedundercover investigations to successfullytarget illegal apartments for rent, coordinat-ed citywide educational campaigns to warntenants about the dangers of an illegal unitand joined a citywide task force to inspectillegal dwellings,” it continued.

The department said those dwellingsthought to be at greatest risk of f ire arebeing targeted most aggressively, and thattheir vacate rates are increasing dramatical-ly.

The concern is not confined to officials inisolated areas of Queens.

Susan Seinfeld, district manager of Com-munity Board 11 in the Little Neck-Baysidearea, said illegal conversions are a common

problem.“We get it a lot,” she said. “We have

[DOB reports] where the inspector writessomething like ‘female opens door and didnot allow access’ all the time. It frustrates alot of people.”

Community Board 13 Chairman BryanBlock said Eastern Queens also is notimmune to the problem.

“It is a concern here, and we do workvery closely with the Buildings Departmentwhen we get a complaint,” Block said Mon-day. “They respond the best they can.”

That, according to Holden, is the crux ofthe matter.

“The Department of Buildings does haveto follow the law,” he said.

But he also believes there may be a reluc-tance on the part of high-ranking BuildingsDepartment officials to seek the number ofentry access warrants needed, or on the partof judges to grant them in any number thatwould be effective.

He said any number of such apartmentsare advertised openly on places likeCraigslist, and that lack of supervision — orconcern — from absentee landlords canmake it easier for such homes to be used forillegal activities.

“And in some cases they refuse to pay therent and it can take a year to kick them out,”Holden said. Q

Audit raps DOB on illegal conversions Comptroller’s office cites rise in failed inspections, low enforcement

by Michael GannonEditor

The funding scandal involving former state Sen.Shirley Huntley continues to ensnare those in the dis-graced lawmaker’s inner circle, with her three code-fendants, including her niece, pleading guilty lastweek for their roles in the misappropriation of statemoney and a subsequent coverup attempt.

The guilty pleas were announced on Feb. 20 in ajoint statement issued by state Attorney General EricSchneiderman and state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

Patricia Savage, Huntley’s former Senate aide, andLynn Smith, Huntley’s niece, pleaded guilty in NassauCounty Supreme Court to third-degree attemptedgrand larceny in connection with their roles in anenterprise called Parent Workshop, which the statedescribes as “a bogus nonprofit” operation.

Savage was president of Parent Workshop and Smithwas treasurer.

David Gantt, a consultant, pleaded guilty to second-degree falsifying of business records.

Huntley allocated $29,950 in member item fundingfor the organization, which was supposed to assistfamilies with education issues.

“The defendants falsely claimed that Parent Work-shop used member item funds secured by SenatorHuntley to hold workshops for and conduct outreachto parents on the workings of the New York City pub-lic school system,” the statement said. “Instead of pro-viding such promised programs, Savage and Smith

pocketed approximately $29,950.”Gantt, they continued, falsified records to claim that

he was paid in cash for conducting workshops as aconsultant, “when in fact he never actually conductedany workshops.”

Savage and Smith will be sentenced by Judge Nor-man St. George on March 27, and Gantt on March 29.

Asked if the investigation is ongoing and whetheror not more people might be targets, a spokeswomanfor Schneiderman’s off ice said it is policy to neitherconf irm nor deny the existence of any probe.

Huntley pleaded guilty on Feb. 14 to felony tamper-ing with evidence for her effort to conceal the misap-propriation of the funds.

The joint investigation into the theft revealed that onceHuntley learned of the probe, she created what Schnei-derman and DiNapoli called a handwritten template for afalse, backdated letter designed to fool investigators intobelieving that workshops had been conducted.

“This letter was submitted to the Attorney General’soffice in response to a subpoena issued to the ParentWorkshop,” the statement said.

Huntley, who is expected to get f ive years’ proba-tion in the case, also is facing up to two years inprison following her guilty plea on a federal fraudcharge two weeks earlier.

In that case, she pleaded guilty to stealing $87,000in taxpayer money she had gotten for the Parent Infor-mation Network, another phony nonprofit group shehad set up with Smith and Savage. Q

Three more guilty in Huntley fraud probeEx-senator’s niece, aide, consultant reach plea deals in $29K theft

The nonprofit funding scandal that helped bring down formerstate Sen. Shirley Huntley ensnared three of her associates,including her niece, all of whom pleaded guilty last week tocharges connected with the misappropriation of nearly $30,000in state taxpayer money. FILE PHOTO

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“Wow, is this the same bath-room?” fr iends of Patr icia Keanes-Douglas ask when they visit her Brooklyn home. “Who did it? It’s beautiful!”

Maybe it’s the shimmering Carrera White tiling on both the floor and walls that catches their eye. Maybe it’s the modern chromefinish Kohler fixtures and deepsoak drop-in bathtub. Or it might be the marble sink and clean white solid wood vanity below it. Then there’s the three-bulb lighting fixture that lends such a crystal- clear glow to the whole room.

More likely than not, it’s all these things, because every-where you look, Keanes-Douglas’ new bathroom exhibits a refined elegance and style that looks modern but also will stand the test of time.

“It’s very posh-looking,” she says. “It’s really light and airy, and it makes you want to stay in the bathroom. Even though the bathroom is small, it’s the kind of bathroom you see in a magazine. It’s beautiful.”

Best of all, turning the bath-room from dated and drab to light and livable cost a lot less than you might think, thanks to the Housing Rehabilitation Assistance program, which specializes in helping homeowners do all kinds of remodeling while at the same time saving thousands of dollars.

Keanes-Douglas, a nurse, and her daughter, Patricia, had been wanting to redo the bathroom in

their home on a quiet block near the Brooklyn Terminal Market for years, but the time never seemed quite right. Until, that is, they received an advertisement for the HRA and saw all the services its attentive staff offers.

“My daughter is always looking to upgrade things,” Keanes-Douglas explained. “She’s wanted to do the bathroom for a long time. I said, well, we’ve been here over 10 years, and we’ve done some things around the house. I hated that old bathroom. This seemed to be the right time to do it.”

But the Keanes-Douglases didn’t want to call just any old contractor to do the job, which is where HRA comes in.

The first step was to call the group’s toll-free number and set up an appointment with a repre-sentative who came by to explain all the benefits of the program, which include securing assis-tance and screening contractors to make sure only the best are brought in to do the work.

Keanes-Douglas, like so many HRA clients, is thrilled with the results. Not only did she get a new bathroom for herself and her daughter, the refinancing allowed her to pay off her car loan, do some more work on the dining room and still come out ahead.

I t was HRA representa -tive Carlos Fontanez who first came to her home to detail the program.

“When Car los came he

explained the whole thing to me,” said Keanes-Douglas, a native of Grenada who’s lived in the United States most of the last 42 years.

“I don’t like to rush things. He took a lot of time explaining everything to me. Then I spoke to his supervisor, and he was really very thorough and informative. Once I got all the information and

read it over, I was very comfort-able with the program.”

The next step was to meet with the HRA-approved contractor who’d be doing the work. The program is very particular about who can do the jobs it’s involved with, requiring compa-nies to demonstrate that they are licensed, bonded and insured for at least $100,000 per inci-dent; registered with the Better Business Bureau, with a rating of an A or higher; on file with Consumer Affairs; and in busi-ness for at least 10 years with no name changes in their filings.

The HRA’s standards ensure that only the best, most repu-table home improvement firms are hired — and the program’s rules stipulate that they don’t even get paid until a client certi-fies the job has been done to his or her complete satisfaction.

The selective process paid off for Keanes-Douglas, as it does for each HRA client, with the whole job done in about a week without any problems, and her house left spotless every day.

“They cleaned up as they went along,” Keanes-Douglas said.

“Not a pin was out of place. I would totally recommend them.”

And the workers did a lot more than is visible to the eye, also redoing the bathroom’s plumbing and electrical systems. They even found the time, and the means within her budget, to do some much-needed work in the dining room attached to the back of her house, putting in new hardwood flooring, electricity and — for the first time — baseboard heating.

All the work went smoothly.“There were no unexpected

problems,” Keanes-Douglas said. “I had no complaints at all.”

And she just can’t get over that new bathroom.

“I love it,” she said. “The colors attract so much light. In the evening, with the light coming in, the bathroom is like a big ball of light.”

To find out if you qualify for the Housing Rehabilitation Assis-tance program, just call HRA toll-free at 866-791-6302. Tell them you read about the great job they did for the Keanes-Douglases, and they’ll be sure to give you the same level of excellent service.

A new bathroom and money savedHRA program helps nurse remodel, and pay off her car Before After

Patricia Keanes-Douglas can’t help but smile as she shows her HRA representative, Carlos Fontanez, what a great job her program-approved contractors did on her bathroom. A drop-in deep-soak tub with custom-tiled apron brings style, comfort and even tax savings, all thanks to the Housing Rehabilitation Assistance program.

Brooklyn nurse Patricia Keanes-Douglas was tired of her bathroom’s outdated design, but had been putting off renovations — until the Housing Rehabilitation Assistance program put remodeling within reach.

&

HOUR-060444— ADVERTISEMENT —

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NEWLY CONSTRUCTEDAPARTMENTS

FOR RENTHoward Beach Senior Apartments is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for 83 affordable housing rental apartments now under construction at 155-55 Crossbay Boulevard in the Howard Beach section of Queens. These buildings are being constructed through the Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and the State Low Income Housing Tax Credit (SLIHTC) Programs of New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), the NYS Housing Finance Agency, the NYS Housing Trust Fund, the Supportive Housing Loan Program of the NYC Department of Housing and Preservation (HPD), Queens Borough President, New York City Council Funds, Federal HOME Investment Partnership, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York. The size, rent, and targeted income distribution for the apartments are as follows:

Applicants must be 55 years of age or older. Applicants will be required to meet income and family size guidelines and additional selection criteria to qualify. Applications may be downloaded from www.ccbq.org/howardbeachapts or by mail from: Howard Beach Apartments, LLC, C/O POP Management, 191 Joralemon Street, 8th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Please include a self-addressed envelope with your request. Completed applications must be returned by regular mail only (no priority, certified, registered, express, overnight or oversized mail will be accepted) to a post office box number that will be listed with the application, and must be postmarked by April 22, 2013. Applications postmarked after April 22, 2013 will be set aside for possible future consideration. Applications will be selected by lottery; applicants who submit more than one application will be disqualified. Current and eligible residents of Queens Community Board 10 will receive preference for 50% of the unsubsidized units. *Units subsidized by Section 8. **Rents do not include utilities.

No Brokers Fee. No Application Fee.ANDREW M. CUOMO, Governor

MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG, MayorMATHEW M. WAMBUA, Commissioner – NYC HPDDARRYL TOWNS, Commissioner/CEO – NYS HCR

www.nyc.gov/hpd

ApartmentsAvailable

ApartmentSize

HHSize

MonthlyRent **

Total MinimumAnnual Income

Total MaximumAnnual Income

18 Studio 1 $773 $20,750 $33,200

19 1 Bedroom 1 or 2 $832 $22,250 $35,600

24 1 Bedroom 1 or 2 $1,000 $26,825 $42,920

9* Studio 1 $1,080 N/A $30,100

13* 1 Bedroom 1 or 2 $1,168 N/A $30,100 1 person;$34,400 2 person

CACH-060604

FREE MARKET APPRAISALSThomas J. LaVecchia, Licensed Real Estate Broker

www.howardbeachrealty.com

137-05 Cross Bay Blvd.Ozone Park, NY 11417 718-641-6800

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HOWARD BEACH/OZONE PARKHoward Beach, 3.5 Rm 1 BR Apt, Terrace, Laundry Room on Premises, and parking.

APARTMENTS FOR RENTOZONE PARK

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Houses Wanted - Free To List - Free Credit Check - Call Now!

HOWARD BEACH4 Rms, 1 BR Hi-Rise Co-op, All redone, New Granite Kit,

New Bath, New Appl. PARKING AVAILABLE! Asking $110K

HOWARD BEACH4 Rms, 1 BR Hi Rise Co-op, All redone, New Granite Kit,

New Bath, New Appl. PARKING AVAILABLE! Asking $110K

HOWARD BEACH4 Rm, 1 BR, Hi-Rise Co-op with

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2 BRs, 1 Bath. Asking only $85K

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HOWARD BEACHROCKWOOD PARK

Hi-Ranch, 46x100 lot, 3/4 BRs, 1st fl gutt needs Sheetrock, Gar, New boiler

and HW. Asking $569K

HOWARD BEACH3.5 Rm Co-op, 1 king size BR, Huge LR, 1 New Bath and Kit, Hi-Rise, Mint cond, All new,

Large Terr. Asking $119,999

HOWARD BEACH2 BR Garden Co-op, 2 fl, Pet ok, Washer allowed.

Asking only $125K

by Ron MarzlockChronicle Contributor

The name may not seem as alarming as what it stood for,except to those who know their history. It was the EfdendeOrganization, located at 267 St. Nicholas Ave. in Ridgewood— Efdende being the German acronym for “Friends of theNew Germany,” and that New Germany being the Third Reich.It was one of the headquarters of the many German-AmericanNazis and their supporters living in Queens and Brooklyn.

Just a few blocks away, at the corner of St. Nicholas and Pal-metto Street, stood the Ridgewood Grove Arena. On April 8,1934 a group of more than 5,000 American Nazis and sympa-thizers met at the arena to call for a “boycott against the boy-cotters,” meaning a boycott of Jewish merchants who stoodagainst Hitler. Like other pro-Nazi groups, the Friends of theNew Germany sought a more “neutral” American stance on theGerman dictator. The chairman of the meeting was JosephSchuster, a printer who lived on Madison Street in Ridgewood.

Expecting violence, the New York Police Department concentrated 100 patrolmen equippedwith tear gas bombs and 50 more detectives at the arena. Violence came, in the form of a clashbetween the Nazis and the antifascist National Blue Shirt Minutemen, Jewish War Veteransand communists — the latter being our allies, for the most part, in the world war to come.

Five years and five months later, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, touching off the worstconflict in human history. America was not directly involved until the Dec. 7, 1941 Japaneseattack on Pearl Harbor. Four days after that, Germany declared war on the United States, andAmerica returned the favor. Pro-Nazi groups in Ridgewood and elsewhere went underground.

How many of the new immigrants in Ridgewood today know of its Nazi history? Q

I HAVE OFTEN WALKEDNazis in Ridgewood rallied for Hitler

Joseph Schuster addressesmore than 5,000 people atthe Ridgewood GroveArena on April 8, 1934,flanked by uniformedNazis. The last word on thebanner means “wake up”in German.

SPORTS EATBTray too much for St. John’s

by Lloyd CarrollChronicle Contributor

St. John’s University men’s basketball coachSteve Lavin jokingly calls himself the “Kinder-garten Cop” over the lack of juniors and seniorson his team. But if he can keep his troopshealthy and intact for a year or two, then theRed Storm should return to the NCAA Tourna-ment — better known today as March Madness.

Red Storm fans will have to be patient, how-ever, because it probably won’t be this year,based on Sunday’s 63-47 loss against their oldBig East nemesis, the Pittsburgh Panthers, atMadison Square Garden.

St. John’s actually matched up well with thevast majority of the Pitt squad, with the notableexception of senior guard Tray Woodall, whoscored 25 points and always seemed to hit a bigshot for the visitors whenever the Red Stormshowed any sign of momentum.

Unfortunately Red Storm sophomore starsD’Angelo Harrison and Sir’Dominic Pointerwere awful, scoring a mere six points each.Freshman Jakarr Sampson was the high scorerfor the Johnnies, as he finished with 14 points.

Brooklyn Nets forward Jerry Stackhouse isan 18-year NBA veteran who is one of the mostrespected players in the game from the stand-points of both the media and his fellow players.During the NBA All-Star break his peers electedhim to serve as vice president of the NBA Play-

ers Association.One of his first duties will be to interview

candidates for the executive director’s job sincethe players union fired Billy Hunter for allegedfinancial shenanigans at the rank and file’sexpense, as well as charges of nepotism when itcame to his hires. “There was a clear breach offiduciary duties here,” Stackhouse told mebefore Friday’s Rockets-Nets game. “I am at theend of my career and I want to help my unionbefore I retire,” he added.

Jerry is an alumnus of the University ofNorth Carolina. He is thinking about going foran MBA degree once he leaves the NBA.

Stackhouse and his fellow NBA PlayersAssociation board members will undoubtedlyinterview a number of qualified candidates.They should think about reaching out to Wood-side native Len Elmore, who had an 11-yearcareer in the NBA, including stints with theKnicks and Nets. Len is a Harvard Law Schoolalum who has worked as an assistant districtattorney, as well as for some very prestigiouslaw firms. In short, he is someone who wouldimmediately have the respect of the NBA teamowners.

The Knicks, who hit a dry patch just beforeand after the All-Star break, did a smart thing insigning former Nets forward Kenyon Martin toa 10-day contract. Martin gives them an insidetoughness that has been missing lately. Q

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ARLENEPACCHIANOBroker/Owner

LAJJA P.MARFATIA

Broker/Owner

Connexion IREAL ESTATE SERVICES INC.

161-14A Crossbay Blvd.,Howard Beach (Brother’s Shopping Ctr.)

718-845-1136Get Your House

SOLD!Open 7 Days!Open 7 Days!

HOWARD BEACH/LINDENWOOD

Large 2 Family, 6 over 6, 4 Baths, Terrace on Second

floor, Hardwood floors, Close to school & shopping, Full

finished basement

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARKMove-in Condition, Hi-Ranch, 4 BRs, 3 Full Baths, Maple wood

kit cabinets, Granite countertops, Hardwood floors thruout, New windows. Half inground pool,

Deck. Call for info. Asking $649K

Just Reduced $575K

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK"Mint" Large Brookfield-Style

Hi-Ranch, All Updated, 4 Lg BRs, 2 New Kitchens, 3 New Baths, New Windows, Doors, Siding & Roof 1 Yr old, Hardwood fls Upstairs, Granite on 1st fl, Pavers and PVC

Fencing, Oversized 2 Car Pvt Dvwy & 1 Car Gar, New Concrete, CAC.

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARK

Corner colonial featuring 4 BRs, 2.5 Baths, Full basement, Updated roof & boiler, Master

BR w/dressing area, New Boiler & Hot Water Heater.

Asking $689K


Large cape on 50x100, Full basement, 4 BRs, 2 Baths,

"Room to expand".


"All Brick," Huge Custom Split Colonial, 56x100 Lot, All paved circular driveway, 2 Car Garage, 4 BRs, 3½ Baths, New Oak Flrs, 2 Fireplaces, IGP, Built-in BBQ, Central Vac, CAC & Baseboard

Heating, Pavers, Front & Back, New Roof, Freshly Painted.

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARKMint Hi-Ranch, All redone in 2004,

3/4 BRs, All New Kitchen w/Stainless Steel, Appl, All New Brick,

Stucco Windows, Kitchen, Baths, Pavers front & back, New Roof, New Gas Boiler, CAC, Polished Porcelin Tiles. Asking $699K

www.ConnexionRealEstate.comwww.ConnexionRealEstate.com

Asking only $499K

HOWARD BEACH/LINDENWOOD CO-OPS

• JR4 Hi-Rise Coops ................ Only $85K• XLG Updated 1 BR Hi-Rise .... Only $99K• Updated 1 BR Co-op .....................$109K• Well maint. 1 BR Hi-Rise Co-op ... $112K• Hi-Rise 2 BRs/2 Updated Baths ...$150K• Hi-Rise 2 BR, 2 Baths,

Many updates! ..........................$169K• Garden, Mint, 1st Fl, Updated kitchen &

bath, 2 BRs, 1 Bath with FDR .......$169K• 2 BR, 1 Bath, S/S Appl, Mint ........$189KOZONE PARK/CENTERVILLE CONDO

• Park Village Condo, Mint 2 BRs, 2 Baths w/Terrace, Unit comes w/1 Parking Spot .............$269K

HOWARD BEACH/COMMERCIAL SUBLET

• Old Howard Beach - 800 sq ft office space, Totally renovated, Ground fl, Across the street from "A" Train.

• New Howard Beach - 1400 sq ft office space, Ground floor. $2200/mo.

FREE MARKET APPRAISAL!Call Today! 718-845-1136

HOWARD BEACH/HAMILTON BEACH

Detached 1 Family Colonial,

2 BRs, 1½ Baths, Hurricane Damage, will be

renov w/new fls, new walls, new kitchen,

new boiler & hot water heater, also cleaned & painted. Asking $299K

Charming Tudor, 1

Fam SD on a large corner double lot. 3 BRs, 2½

Baths, Det 3 Car Garage, Updated Kit, Parquet

fls on 1st fl, Fin bsmnt.

HOWARD BEACH/OLD SIDE

Detached 2 Family 6/6, 40x100, Full Basement, Pvt Dvwy. $619K $599K

OZONE PARKTUDOR VILLAGE

OLD HOWARD BEACHTwo family semi-det, 6/6 w/full bsmnt, 41x250 lot (pie shaped),

4 car dvwy, New roof/Boiler/New Hot water heater, 3 zone

heating, 1½ Baths each flr. Asking $529KJust Reduced $499K

HOWARD BEACH/ROCKWOOD PARKHi-Ranch, Extra Large 5 BRs,

3 Full Baths, 27x55, On 40x109 Lot. Asking $699K

IN CONTRACT

READY TO SELL?

LIST YOUR HOME HERE!

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Lovely Detached 2 Family, Six over Six, with a 2 Car

Garage, 3 Bedrooms, and 2 Full Bathrooms on each floor.

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IF YOU PRICE TOO HIGH, THEY WON’T BUY

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HOWARD BEACH

160-10 Cross Bay Blvd, Howard Beach, NYCall 718-766-9175 or 917-774-6121

Colonial on Water, 3 bedroom, Needs TLC, Bulkhead, Possible Mold, New Listing, Seller Wants

To Hear All Offers.

HOWARD BEACHLINDENWOOD

Lovely 3 Bedroom Co-op converted to 2 Bedroom, Dining area, Living Rm, Eff Kit, 1 Full Bath, Pets accepted, Seller will consider all offers! Must See!

Spacious 3br Condo in North Gate, 2baths, 6rms, With

parking, and Alarm & Life Call, Must See! All Offers!

HOWARD BEACHLINDENWOOD

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Lovely 2 Family Detached Colonial on a

30x100 lot,with a two car garage and private Driveway, 5brs, 2 full baths, Full

finished Basement with seperate entrance,

Must See! All Offers!

OZONE PARK - OPEN HOUSESUNDAY, MARCH 2ND, 12-3PM

HOWARD BEACH

CALL FOR FREE HOME EVALUATION!

New York Hospital Queens installedVeronica Tsang, shown above holding flowersas she is surrounded by members of the hos-pital’s Coummunity Advisory Council andelected officials, who welcomed her as thehealthcare institution’s new chairwoman.She formerly served as senior vice presidentof Branch Administration for EasternRegions for Cathay Bank, managing all ofthe bank’s retail branch businesses in NewYork, New Jersey, Boston, Chicago and Texas.

She is also president of The Rotary Club ofFlushing and was vice president of JPMorganChase’s Bank-at-Work Customer Supportgroup.

Tsang is a founder of the Chinese Gift ofLife, which provides free open-heart surgeryin the United States to children from Chinawith congenital heart disease.

She has been a member of the NYHQCommunity Advisory Council for more than15 years.COURTESY OF NYHQ

Tsang now NYHQ chair

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“Perfection

Is Not An

Accident”

No Job

Too Big or

Too Small

SPECIALIZINGIN COLLISIONAND THEFT

REPAIRS

OUR UNLIMITEDLIFETIME

GUARANTEE“If You Are

Not Completely Satisfied We Will

Put You In A Rental Vehicle at Our Own

Expense Until We Satisfy You!”

SPRAY BOOTH USI

ITALIA

We Only UseORIGINAL

MANUFACTUREDPARTS

We are not only a State-Of-The-ArtRepair Facility,Our On-Staff

Insurance Adjusters Will Help Settle

Your Claim & Insure Prompt

Service Reporting Your Claim.

• FREE 24-Hour Towing With Any Collision Repair• We will deliver your vehicle upon completion

• Rental Cars Available• Paintless Dent Removal• Computer Color Matching• Laser-measured Unibody Straightening• Full Down Draft European Heated SPRAY BOOTH USI ITALIA

1- 888-4SONNYSTel: 718-738-6721 • Fax: 718-846-7755

106-12 ATLANTIC AVE.RICHMOND HILL

SSonnonnyy’s’s

Where perfection is not an accident...And at Sonny’s Collision Specialists that’s what we offer our customers - PERFECTION!

We know how stressful it can be when you are without your vehicle.At Sonny’s you will never be dissatisfied - in fact we’re so sure, that we offer you a rental vehicle

at our expense if you’re not completely satisfied with our work when we return your vehicle.

OUR LIFETIME GUARANTEE IS UNLIMITED.

COLLISIONSPECIALISTS

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